A major earthquake just offshore rattled Chileans, killing five people and shaking the Earth so strongly the tremor was felt in places across South America. Authorities worked into the early hours Thursday assessing damage in several coastal towns that saw flooding from small tsunami waves set off by the quake.
The quake also impacted members of Vancouver’s Chilean community.
WATCH: Camera sent bouncing as 8.3 quake rocks Chile
Mass evacuations were ordered in several parts of Chile, including the port city of Valparaíso where relatives of the Riquelme family live.
“As soon as we heard we started trying to call family,” said Leslie Riquelme, whose family runs Vancouver’s Panadería Latina bakery. “We have one aunt in particular who is elderly and lives by herself, so up to this moment we still haven’t been able to get in touch with her. All the lines are down.”
WATCH: Buildings forced to sway in Santiago and other cities, sending people running into the streets
The magnitude-8.3 quake hit off northern Chile on Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for the Andean nation’s entire Pacific coast. People sought safety in the streets of inland cities, while others along the shore took to their cars to get to higher ground.
WATCH: Flooding in Chile after 8.3 earthquake hits nation
Authorities said early Thursday that five people had been killed and one person was listed as missing.
11 dead after earthquake hits Chile, presidents visits residents
“So many things go through your mind, obviously the safety of your loved ones. It’s such a scary thing… I can’t imagine going through it.”
-With files from Associated Press and John Hua
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