A major earthquake with several large aftershocks rocked the South American nation of Chile just before 6pm St Joseph time. The largest of the temblors was of magnitude 8.3. At least five people died. Residents of Illapel, near the 8.3 quake’s epicentre, fled into the streets in terror as their homes began to sway.

Shoppers in one department store were left in the dark amid collapsed ceilings and shelves. Along the coast, the quake made flagpoles sway and crack.

News accounts report upwards of one million people evacuated. Operations were suspended at two major copper mines. A series of Tsunami alerts were issued in Chile, but by this morning all had been cancelled. The state of Hawaii was placed on a Tsunami Watch. In the coastal town of Coquimbo, waves of up to 4.5m (15ft) in height hit the shore.