LOC12:03
09:03 GMT
KUWAIT, Feb 27 (KUNA) -- A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck central Chile early Saturday, reported CNN, quoting the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
CNN said that the quake's epicenter was located near the city of Concepcion, 212 miles (341 kilometers) from the capital of Santiago. It struck at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. ET).
Concepcion is Chile's second largest city with a population of 200,000.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for Chile and Peru, and the center recorded a tsunami wave as high as nine feet.
"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the National Weather Service said in a statement.
The extent of damage or casualties was not immediately known.
Alessandro Perez, who is staying at the Santiago Marriott Hotel, reported shattered windows, but there was no structural damage. No one at the hotel was injured, he said.
Anita Herrera, who works at the Hotel Kennedy in Santiago, said electricity was knocked out at that hotel and guests were nervous.
"Our hotel is built for this," she said. "In Chile, this happens many times.
" Chile holds the record for the largest earthquake in the world, according to the USGS. A magnitude 9.5 quake struck the South American country in May 1960 and killed 1,655 people. (end) ema KUNA 271203 Feb 10NNNN