Massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake kills 78 in southern Chile

London, Feb 27 (ANI): A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake capable of tremendous damage struck southern Chile on Saturday, reportedly killing at least 78 people.

President Michelle Bachelet said that more deaths were possible. The officials have also issued a tsunami warning.

The quake hit 197 miles southwest of the capital, Santiago, and at a depth of 36.9 miles, the US Geological Survey reported.

Its epicentre was just 75 miles from Concepcion, Chile's second-largest city, where more than 200,000 people live along the Bio Bio river, and 60 miles from the ski town of Chillan, a gateway to Andean ski resorts that was destroyed in a 1939 earthquake.

Buildings shook and collapsed in Santiago. Phone lines were down in the country, making confirmation of damage difficult, especially further south toward the epicentre.

The quake was felt in Argentina as well, the Daily Express reports.

The US West Coast Tsunami Warning centre said it did not expect a tsunami along the west of the US or Canada but was continuing to monitor the situation. (ANI)