Massive 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Chile, Sparks Tsunami Alert

Santiago: A 7.7-magnitude quake hit 140 miles southwest of the city of Puerto Montt on Christmas Day, the United States Geological Survey said.

It has triggered a tsunami alert from the U.S.-based Pacific warning centre, which affects areas within 620 miles of the quake's epicentre. The quake's depth was about nine miles.

It was earlier reported as magnitude 7.6. Puerto Montt is situated in southern Chile's Lake District, around 655 miles away from the South American country's capital, Santiago. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous waves were possible on coasts located up to 1,000km from the quake's epicentre.