8.8 magnitude quake hits Chile, triggering tsunami

"Despite this, the system is functioning. People should remain calm," she said. "We're doing everything we can with all the forces we have. Any information we will share immediately."

Chile is prone to earthquakes as it lies along the Pacific rim of fire, but damage is often limited because of strict building codes in the country.

Santiago's international airport was closed after the earthquake and all flights were cancelled.

The earthquake generated tsunamis carrying waves as high as 1.5 meters and traveling at 800 km per hour to the north and south.

Tsunami warnings were issued over a wide area, including Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Antarctica, and Australia.

"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter and could also be a threat to more distant coasts," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

There were fears the death toll from the 8.8-magnitude earthquake, which was some 1,000 times greater in energy than the 7.0-magnitude quake that hit Haiti, will be high because it happened when people were sleeping.

The largest earthquake recorded since 1900 was one in the same area of Chile on May 22, 1960.

The 9.5-magnitude quake killed more than 1,600 people and left two million homeless. The tsunami that it caused killed people in Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines and caused damage to the west coast of the United States.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said it was investigating the possibility of a tsunami reaching Japan after Saturday's quake.

In May 1960, a tsunami struck the coasts of Hokkaido and the Sanriku region after an earthquake in Chile and about 140 people were killed or went missing.