Chile cancels tsunami warnings after earthquake

Chile earthquake Authorities in Chile cancelled tsunami warnings on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake struck the northern coastline of the world's largest copper producer, triggering landslides, blackouts, fires and a small tsunami.

The area affected by the earthquake, which measured 8.2 on the Richter scale, appeared to have escaped large casualties, with the death toll rising to six on Wednesday, while copper mines reported no major damage.

Michelle Bachelet, who returned as Chile's president on 11 March, arrived at the disaster zone just north of the mining port of Iquique on Wednesday morning, after declaring a state of emergency in the region. She sent 100 riot police by military aircraft to support 300 troops out on the streets to prevent looting and to round up escaped prisoners.

Fulvio Rossi, a socialist senator who forms part of the ruling coalition, told a local radio station: "There has been an admirable reaction by citizens, public officials and the military."

The price of copper initially hit a three-week high in London at $6,728.75 per metric ton, before settling back just 0.5 per cent higher at $6,694.

The earthquake, which struck at 9pm local time on Tuesday, also shook buildings in neighbouring Peru and in Bolivia's capital, La Paz, 470km away.

However, Chile's Collahuasi mine, a joint venture led by Anglo American and Xstrata close to the epicentre, reported it had suffered no problems, and said by midday on Wednesday that within hours operations would be 100 per cent back to normal.

Codelco, the state-owned copper mining company, and London-listed Antofagasta also said their mines were functioning normally.

Mines were evacuated so workers could be with their families, while school classes in coastal areas and flights to the north of the country were suspended.

More than 300 prisoners took advantage of the damage to escape from a female prison in Iquique, forcing Chile's border with Peru to be temporarily closed, but officials said as many as 100 have since been recaptured. Defence minister Jorge Burgos assured that public order was under control.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was shallow, at 20.1km below the seabed, and struck about 100km northwest of Iquique in the Pacific Ocean, close to the border with Peru.

Waves reaching 2.1m high lashed Chile's coastline, laying waste to fishing boats docked in harbours. More than 900,000 people took refuge on higher ground, with many ignoring calls to evacuate on foot causing traffic jams, but they began returning to their homes after authorities withdrew tsunami warnings for most coastal areas early on Wednesday.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also lifted an alert for all of Latin America's Pacific coast. Authorities in Hawaii were still on tsunami watch but experts did not expect any impact on the island.

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Steven Godby, an expert in disaster management at Nottingham Trent University, said Chile was well prepared for tsunamis and earthquakes, having performed several drills since a magnitude 8.8 earthquake in central Chile in February 2010.

The sixth largest earthquake on record, it killed in excess of 500 people, destroying more than 200,000 homes, leaving scores without electricity for several days and causing an estimated $7bn of damage.

"The government of Chile has been working hard to improve the awareness of people living along the coast to the threat from tsunamis and on what to do if one is approaching," said Mr Godby.

Ms Bachelet, who finished her first term as president shortly after the 2010 earthquake struck, was severely criticised for her handling of the disaster, although she left power with record high approval ratings.

World leaders including Pope Francis and Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff sent messages of support.

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