Image copyright Reuters Image caption Images from the island of Chiloe showed damaged roads and bridges

A tsunami alert issued after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake off the coast of southern Chile has now been lifted.

The quake struck at 14:22 GMT on the island of Chiloe, about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Quellon, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

No casualties have been reported. Some 4,000 people were evacuated.

It hit an area of Chile known for tourism. Some roads and bridges were affected but damage appeared to be limited.

The quake's depth was about 34km, according to the USGS.

Chile's national emergency services office had initially issued an alert and ordered the evacuation of coastal areas of Los Lagos region.

Residents of Quellon were among those who headed to safe areas ahead of the tsunami warning being lifted.

"I've lived for 10 years in the south and never felt something like that," a resident who was leaving his house said.

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet tweeted: "Much strength and encouragement to the compatriots affected by the tremor in Chile and other areas in the south. Emergency procedures are already in place."</s>A tsunami warning was issued in Chile after an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck off the southern coast of the country on Sunday. The national emergency office of Chile issued an alert and ordered citizens to evacuate the coastal areas of the Los Lagos region, including Biobio, Araucania, Los Rios and Aysen, BBC reported.

The temblor hit at 11.22 am (local time), 225 km southwest of Puerto Montt in southern Chile at a depth of about 15 km, according to the United States Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that hazardous waves were likely on coasts located up to 1,000 km from the epicentre of the quake.

There were no immediate reports of damage, said Alejandro Verges, the regional director for the national emergency service, according to The Telegraph.

In February 2010, 524 people were killed after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck the country and triggered a tsunami.</s>SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Officials removed a tsunami warning after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck 225 km (140 miles) southwest of Puerto Montt in southern Chile on Sunday, prompting an evacuation order for southern coastal areas.

The U.S.-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami warning was no longer in place for the area after earlier issuing one for areas within 1,000 km (621 miles) of the epicenter of the quake.

Chile's National Emergency Services (Onemi) chief Ricardo Toro said a tsunami watch remained in place, and reiterated his call for Los Lagos residents to abandon beaches and go to higher ground. Toro said no fatalities had been reported.</s>A powerful earthquake shook southern Chile on Sunday, prompting officials to order an evacuation of coastal areas to guard against a possible tsunami..

The US Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 7.7 and said it struck at 11:22 am local time (14:22 GMT) near the southern tip of Chiloe Island, about 40 kilometers southwest of Puerto Quello and at a depth of 33 kilometers.

The area, some 1,300 kilometers south of the capital of Santiago, is relatively sparsely populated.

Chile's naval oceanographic service declared a preventative tsunami alert and officials began evacuating coastal areas in the southern part of the country.

The regional director for the national emergency service, Alejandro Verges, told TVN television that there were no immediate reports about damage.

A much stronger magnitude 8.8 earthquake in February 2010 generated a tsunami and killed 524 people in Chile.</s>Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says no longer threat of tsunami from Chile earthquake - Local emergency services say no fatalities reported</s>The epicentre of the earthquake was 140 miles southwest of Puerto Montt.

A tsunami warning has been issued after an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck in southern Chile.

The epicentre of the earthquake was 140 miles southwest of Puerto Montt and had a depth of about nine miles, the US Geological Survey said.</s>SANTIAGO: Officials removed a tsunami warning after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck 225 km (140 miles) southwest of Puerto Montt in southern Chile on Sunday, prompting an evacuation order for southern coastal areas.

The U.S.-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami warning was no longer in place for the area after earlier issuing one for areas within 1,000 km (621 miles) of the epicentre of the quake.

Chile's National Emergency Services (Onemi) chief Ricardo Toro said a tsunami watch remained in place, and reiterated his call for Los Lagos residents to abandon beaches and go to higher ground. Toro said no fatalities had been reported.

Onemi said approximately 4,000 people had evacuated the Los Lagos area.

The quake's depth was about 34.6 km (21.5 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said. According to media reports, the quake was felt in the southwest Argentine city of Bariloche.

Chile is the world's leading copper producer, but there are no major mines located near the zone affected by the earthquake.

Chile's state-run oil company ENAP said its Bio Bio refinery in southern Chile was operating normally.

Chile has a long history of deadly quakes, including a 8.8 magnitude quake in 2010 off the south-central coast, which also triggered a tsunami that devastated coastal town.</s>A strong Christmas day earthquake rattled Chile on Sunday, registering 7.7 on the Moment Magnitude Scale, according to US seismologists, who warned that tsunamis are possible in some areas.

 

 The US Geological Survey said the quake struck near the southern coast of the quake-prone South American nation at 1422 GMT.

 

 The epicentre of the earthquake was 40 kilometres southwest of the town of Puerto Quellon.

 

 The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, said in a bulletin that "hazardous tsunamic waves are forecast for some coasts." 

 

 The quake had a depth of 15 kilometres according to the PTWC.</s>An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 has struck south-west of the city of Puerto Montt in southern Chile, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The agency put the quake’s magnitude at 7.7 and said it struck at 11.22 am local time near the southern tip of Chiloé Island, about 25 miles (40km) south-west of Puerto Quellón city and at a depth of 20 miles (33km). The area, about 140 miles (225km) from Puerto Montt, is relatively sparsely populated.

Chile’s naval oceanographic service declared a preventative tsunami alert for areas within 621 miles (1,000km) of the epicentre, and officials began evacuating coastal areas in the southern part of the country. But officials later removed the tsunami warning.

Chile’s National Emergency Office (Onemi) said a tsunami watch remained in place, and reiterated his call for Los Lagos residents to abandon beaches and go to higher ground. Toro said there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.

Onemi said approximately 4,000 people had evacuated the Los Lagos area. 



According to media reports, the quake was felt in the city of Bariloche, over the border in Argentina.

Chile has a long history of deadly earthquakes, including a 8.8-magnitude event in 2010 off the south-central coast, which triggered a tsunami that devastated coastal towns.</s>On this day 12 days ago, 226,000 people were killed when a 9.15 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean.

Thailand, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka were among the worst hit countries.

Around 5,395 people were killed in Thailand alone, and among them, about 2,000 foreign tourists.

Tsunami warning after massive earthquake strikes off Chile on Christmas Day 12/25/2016
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Chile spurs tsunami warnings.