Chile declares state of emergency after quake

18 September 2015 08:34 am

The Chilean government declared a state of emergency in a central region Thursday after a magnitude-8.3 earthquake killed 11 people and caused widespread disruption.

President Michelle Bachelet declared the state of emergency for the region around the port city of Coquimbo, near the epicentre of the quake which struck late Wednesday, daily El Mercurio reported, citing Interior Minister Jorge Burgos.

About 1 million people were evacuated from their homes in fear of a tsunami, as tsunami warnings were issued for areas all along the Pacific coast. (dpa)