Massive earthquake strikes Chile

BOSTON — A  8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile early Saturday. At least 122 people have been killed, with the toll expected to rise, and tsunami warnings have been issued for countries around the Pacific.

The quake struck at 3:34 a.m. in central Chile. The capital Santiago is about 200 miles from the epicenter and Concepcion, Chile’s second-largest metropolitan area, is roughly 70 miles from the quake’s center.

Sirens sounded at 6 a.m. Friday across Hawaii, warning people of a possible tsunami and telling people in coastal areas to evacuate. A wide array of Pacific nations are bracing for potentially devastating tidal waves. Countries across the Asia-Pacific region are readying emergency measures drawn up after the Indian Ocean quake of 2004, with the tsunami expected to hit in the next 24 hours.

Here’s a roundup of reports from GlobalPost’s correspondents around the region:

– The earthquake was strongly felt in Mendoza, Argentina, but no major damage or injuries have been reported.
– Costa Rica has been spared from a possible tsunami and Nicaragua reported hard waves crashing in at 9 a.m.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has generated a map showing the projected tsunami travel times. (NOAA/Handout/Reuters)

The A.P. has footage from of Santiago this morning:

 And CNN talks to singer Elliott Yamin, who was tweeting when the quake hit and gives his account of what he witnessed in Chile: