A massive earthquake registering a magnitude of 8.8 struck central Chile early Saturday morning, toppling buildings, homes and shattering bridges.
The quake has prompted tsunami warnings as far away as British Columbia. Tens of thousands of Hawaii’s costal residents have been evacuated as tsunami waves race along the Pacific ocean.
Experts warn tsunami waves are likely to hit parts of Asia, Australia and New Zealand within the next 24 hours.
Chile’s president-elect, Sebastian Pinera says the quake killed at least 120 people, and the death toll is likely to rise.
President Michelle Bachelet says huge waves hit the Juan Fernanzes Islands. Radio stations also reported serious damage along the archipelago.
The minute-and-a-half-long-quake hit about 160 kilometres from the southwest costal city of Concepcion, which is the country’s second largest city, but caused damage more than 300 kilometres away in the capital of Santiago.
The airport in Santiago has been shut down to deal with continued aftershocks. So far, there have been 29 of them magnitude 5 or greater and one reaching magnitude 6.9. Hospitals in the area have also been evacuated, and power and phone lines are down.
Local television showed images of residents looting pharmacies and a collapsed grain silo in Concepcion, making off with bags of wheat.
In 1960, Chile was hit by the world’s biggest earthquake on record. The 9.5 magintude quake leveled the city of Valdivia, killing 1, 655 people and creating a tsunami which battered Easter Island.
Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper issued a statement Saturday, saying officials in Santiago and evaluating the damage and trying to determine whether any Canadians have been affected.
Foreign Affairs minister Lawrence Cannon says there are 1, 100 Canadians the government has as registered being in Chile.
Local Toronto disaster relief aid agency Global Medic has announced it will be deploying members of its rapid response team to Chile.
Members of the organization, currently in Haiti, will work to provide clean drinking water and medical care.
With files from The Associated Press
People walk along a highway with a collapsed bridge in the background in the outskirts of Santiago. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images.
A man observes the wreckage at his house in Valparaiso. CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images.
A man observes the wreckage at his house in Valparaiso. CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images.