Santiago: Tsunami warnings have been issued over a wide area, after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile.
Warnings have been issued for South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands.
In less than three hours following the 90-second quake, the US Geological Survey reported 11 aftershocks, of which five measured 6.0 or above.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center called for "urgent action to protect lives and property" in Hawaii, which is among 53 nations and territories subject to tsunami warnings.
"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the centre said.
Chile's President Michele Bachelet has declared a "state of catastrophe".
She said a huge wave reached a populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands, 660km off the Chilean coast. There were no immediate reports of major damage there.
The US Geological Survey said the quake hit 317 kilometres southwest of the capital, Santiago, and at a depth of 59.4 kilometres.
Its epicentre was just 75 miles from Concepcion, Chile's second-largest city, where more than 200,000 people live along the Bio Bio river, and 60 miles from the ski town of Chillan.
The US government extended a tsunami warning to Colombia, Antarctica, Panama and Costa Rica following the earthquake.
The US west coast tsunami warning centre said it did not expect a tsunami along the west of the US or Canada but was continuing to monitor the situation.
Witnesses said that people streamed onto the streets of the Chilean capital, north of the epicenter, hugging each other and crying.
Buildings shook and there were blackouts in parts of the city. Witnesses said that there was very strong shaking that lasted for 10 to 30 seconds.
A national emergency official told radio the government was evaluating damage in and around Concepcion.
