The Ministry of Civil Defence has issued a tsunami warning for eastern parts of New Zealand and a school in the Coromandel has evacuated after a powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast off Chile.
The quake struck 167km north of Valparaiso late this morning (NZ time) at a depth of 25km. At least three people were killed by the tremor about 280km north of the capital Santiago, the biggest earthquake since 2010 to hit the world's top copper producer.
The quake, which was felt as far away as Buenos Aires in Argentina, also damaged homes, buildings and injured several people.
The Pacific Tsunami Center in Hawaii today advised that tsunami waves of up to 3m are possible along the coast of French Polynesia. Waves of between 30cm and 1m high are possible for Japan, Antarctica, and most of the South Pacific, including New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, it said.
In New Zealand, a watch is in place for the East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula.
People on affected coastal areas should stay out of the water, off beaches and listen to the radio for updates, Civil Defence said.
School evacuated
In the Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay Area School has evacuated and teachers and students had moved to Moewai Park, where they would spend the rest of the school day.
Principal John Wright told NZME News Service it was better to be cautious than careless.
"We've got 1000 people on site. So if we get the alert...then we act. It may well be not necessary, but that's okay."
Mr Wright said was the fourth evacuation in three years, but previous evacuations were trials and today's was the first in response to a specific tsunami threat.
The tsunami warning has been issued to all local civil defence authorities, emergency services and other agencies. It would remain in effect until a cancellation message was issued, Civil Defence said.
In Banks Peninsula, one of the areas identified as a "hot spot" likely to feel the tsunami effects, Christchurch Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) was monitoring the tsunami alert.
Christchurch CDEM said it was seeking "more detailed information about the Chilean earthquake and the potential tsunami risk for coastal Banks Peninsula."
Monitoring of the situation would will continue throughout this evening and people were advised to stay out of the water, including rivers and estuaries.
In Auckland, no warning was currently in place for the city, but authorities were still unsure this afternoon if Great Barrier Island was at risk.
Chile's government has urged residents to evacuate the coastline. In the city of Illapel, which is near the quake's epicentre, a 26-year-old woman was killed by a collapsing wall, while 15 others have been reported injured.
Guy Hodges was with his wife and 5-year-old boy in Santiago when the quake struck.
"[The] quake shook us for over a minute had us taking shelter in the doorway. It was long and had our apartment building creaking. There have been at least 5 after shocks, 1 strong enough to scramble for the door again."
