Tsunami Warnings

Tsunami warnings

A MASSIVE earthquake has devastated Chile killing at least 300 people and sending a tsunami as fast a JET PLANE sweeping across the Pacific.

Tsunami warnings have been issued in 53 nations, including Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Antarctica and Australia.

Today residents and tourists in Hawaii woke to 6am pre-dawn sirens alerting them to the potential disaster.

The sirens sounded to warn people in coastal areas of the need to retreat to higher ground.

Chile's powerful 8.8-magnitude quake struck in the early hours of the morning, collapsing buildings and downing phone lines across the country.

It sent shockwaves out from the epicentre 70 miles from the country's second city Concepcion, causing buildings and bridges to collapse and catch fire.

The quake, the most powerful to hit the nation in 50 years, struck around 200 miles south west of the capital Santiago.

Chile President Michele Bachelet has declared a "state of catastrophe" and said the death toll was rising.

More about tsunami warnings.