Tsunami alert assued after magnitude 8.0 quake off Chile coast

A tsunami warning was issued for Chile, Peru and Ecuador after the U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 8.0 earthquake off the coast of Chile.

The quake, which hit around 9 p.m. local time, cut power in parts of the country, according to TVN, the Chilean national broadcaster. The station reported waves of 1.8 meters in Pisagua in northern Chile. Authorities have ordered evacuation of the entire coastline.

An earthquake off the coast of southern Chile in February 2010 killed about 500 people and caused $30 billion in damage and losses.

Anglo American Plc, BHP Billiton Ltd. and Teck Resources Ltd. operate copper mines in northern Chile. Spokesmen for the three companies were unavailable for comment.

Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, said its mines located in the Antofagasta region further south were unaffected by the earthquake, a company spokesman briefed on the matter said.

This story was originally published April 1, 2014 at 8:04 PM with the headline "Tsunami alert assued after magnitude 8.0 quake off Chile coast."