Chilean authorities said evacuations are underway along parts of the country’s coast due to the threat of a tsunami after the large earthquake off Russia’s far eastern coast overnight.
In social media posts on Wednesday, Chile’s national disaster response agency SENAPRED said evacuations had begun along the coasts of seven regions in northern Chile: Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, and O’Higgins.
Videos from social media geolocated by CNN show shrill sirens echoing among the port city of Iquique’s waterfront high-rises. After each round of sirens, an automated voice says “emergency” in Spanish.
On Easter Island, residents were urged to head to safety on Wednesday morning.
“Act calmly and follow the instructions of the authorities and response teams,” SENAPRED said. “During the evacuation, do not forget to consider your pet and its needs.”
SENAPRED has put the country’s entire coast, including its sparsely populated Antarctic Territory, under a “red alert” according to the agency’s website.
