Sep 17, 2015

Thousands of residents of this small city in northern Chile were sleeping outside Thursday after a powerful earthquake destroyed their homes, forced more than 1 million to evacuate and killed at least eight people in the quake-prone South American nation.

: A boat stands on a dock after it was lifted by an earthquake-triggered tsunami in Coquimbo, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday’s magnitude-8.3 earthquake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America. (Agencia Uno/Hernan Contreras via AP)

: A damaged headstone at a cemetery after an earthquake in Illapel, some 200 km north of Santiago on September 17, 2015. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile on September 17, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. (AFP Photo/P )

: Damage in a collapsed building is seen following an 8.3-earthquake in Illapel, Chile, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. The death toll has risen to at least five, with dozens of people injured. Around a million people have been evacuated from their homes, particularly around the country’s coastal areas for fear of a tsunami, the Interior Ministry stated. (Mario Ruiz/EFE/Zuma Press/TNS)

: People remain in the street during a strong quake in Santiago on September 16, 2015. A strong 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the center of Chile on Wednesday, local seismologists said, triggering a tsunami alert, sparking panic and shaking buildings. (AFP Photo/P )

: Police patrol a debris strewn street in Valparaiso, Chile, after a tsunami, caused by an earthquake hit the area, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. A magnitude-8.3 earthquake hit off Chile’s northern coast, causing buildings to sway in Santiago and other cities and sending people running into the streets. Authorities reported one death in a town north of the capital.(Pablo Ovalle Isasmendi/AGENCIA UNO via AP)

: People gather at the Placeres hill viewpoint after a tsunami alert in Valparaiso, Chile on September 16, 2015. A strong 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the center of Chile on Wednesday, US seismologists said, triggering a tsunami alert that stretched to Peru and the evacuation of coastal areas. (AFP Photo/Aton – andres pinaandres pina)

: A police officer stands in the street to direct traffic as people stand in a line for public transportation after an earthquake in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. A powerful magnitude-8.3 earthquake hit off Chile’s northern coast Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in Santiago and other cities and sending people running into the streets. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)

: Women remain outside a building looking at a mobile phone during a strong quake in Santiago on September 16, 2015. A strong 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the center of Chile on Wednesday, local seismologists said, triggering a tsunami alert, sparking panic and shaking buildings. (AFP Photo/P )

: People evacuate a mall in Santiago after a powerful earthquake, in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. The magnitude-8.3 earthquake hit off Chile’s northern coast causing buildings to sway in Santiago and other cities and sending people running into the streets. Authorities reported one death in a town north of the capital. (Nadia Perez/AGENCIA UNO via AP)

: People remain in the street after a tsunami alert in Valparaiso, Chile on September 16, 2015. A strong 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the center of Chile on Wednesday, US seismologists said, triggering a tsunami alert that stretched to Peru and the evacuation of coastal areas. (AFP Photo/P )

: A damaged store is seen after a large earthquake in Concon, some 110 kms northwest of Santiago on September 16, 2015. The 8.3-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile has left at least five dead, a million evacuated and one person missing, an official said. (AFP Photo/P / )

: Damages in Concon, some 110 km northwest of Santiago, on September 17, 2015 hit by an earthquake on the eve. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile Wednesday, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year, Deputy Interior Minister Mahmoud Aleuy said. (AFP Photo/P /claudio )

: A cat stands behind debris of a destroyed house in Illapel, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. A magnitude 8.3 earthquake 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. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)

: A man crosses a street next to rubble from a collapsed house after an earthquake in Illapel, some 200 km north of Santiago on September 17, 2015. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile on September 17, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. (AFP Photo/P )

: A man crosses a street next to a destroyed house after an earthquake in Illapel, some 200 km north of Santiago on September 17, 2015. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile on September 17, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. (AFP Photo/P )

: People recover their belongings in Concon, Chile, some 110 kilometers northwest of Santiago, on September 17, 2015 after a massive earthquake hit the area on September 16. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile Wednesday, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year, Deputy Interior Minister Mahmoud Aleuy said. (AFP Photo/P /vladimir )

: People recover their belongings in Concon, Chile, some 110 kilometers northwest of Santiago, on September 17, 2015 after a massive earthquake hit the area on September 16. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile Wednesday, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year, Deputy Interior Minister Mahmoud Aleuy said. (AFP Photo/P /vladimir )

: Homes are damaged in Concon, Chile, some 110 kilometers northwest of Santiago, on September 17, 2015 after a massive earthquake hit the area on September 16. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile Wednesday, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year, Deputy Interior Minister Mahmoud Aleuy said. (AFP Photo/P /vladimir )

: Homes are damaged in Concon, Chile, some 110 kilometers northwest of Santiago, on September 17, 2015 after a massive earthquake hit the area on September 16. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile Wednesday, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year, Deputy Interior Minister Mahmoud Aleuy said. (AFP Photo/P /vladimir )

: People recover their belongings in Concon some 110 km northwest Santiago after a massive earthquake on September 17, 2015. Santiago, Chile. The 8.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Wednesday off the coast of Chile has left at least eight dead, a million evacuated and one person missing, an official said. (AFP Photo/P /christian )

: People recover their belongings in Concon some 110 km northwest Santiago after a massive earthquake on September 17, 2015. Santiago, Chile. The 8.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Wednesday off the coast of Chile has left at least eight dead, a million evacuated and one person missing, an official said. (AFP Photo/P /christian )

: Debris in Concon some 110 km northwest Santiago after a massive earthquake on September 17, 2015. Santiago, Chile. The 8.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Wednesday off the coast of Chile has left at least eight dead, a million evacuated and one person missing, an official said. (AFP Photo/P /christian )

: People recover their belongings in Concon some 110 km northwest Santiago after a massive earthquake on September 17, 2015. Santiago, Chile. The 8.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Wednesday off the coast of Chile has left at least eight dead, a million evacuated and one person missing, an official said. (AFP Photo/P /christian )

: Debris in Concon some 110 km northwest Santiago after a massive earthquake on September 17, 2015. Santiago, Chile. The 8.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Wednesday off the coast of Chile has left at least eight dead, a million evacuated and one person missing, an official said. (AFP Photo/P /christian )

: Inside view of a restaurant in Concon some 110 km northwest Santiago after a massive earthquake on September 17, 2015. Santiago, Chile. The 8.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Wednesday off the coast of Chile has left at least eight dead, a million evacuated and one person missing, an official said. (AFP Photo/P /christian )

: Damaged houses in Concon, some 110 km northwest of Santiago, on September 17, 2015 hit by an earthquake on the eve. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile Wednesday, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year, Deputy Interior Minister Mahmoud Aleuy said. (AFP Photo/P /claudio )

: Debris litters a beach in Concon, Chile, some 110 kilometers northwest of Santiago, on September 17, 2015, after a massive earthquake hit the area on September 16. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile Wednesday, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year, Deputy Interior Minister Mahmoud Aleuy said. (AFP Photo/P /vladimir )

: A collapsed structure in Concon, some 110 km northwest of Santiago, on September 17, 2015 hit by an earthquake on the eve. A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile Wednesday, killing eight people, forcing the evacuation of a million and sparking warnings that tsunami waves could reach Japan. It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year, Deputy Interior Minister Mahmoud Aleuy said. (AFP Photo/P /claudio )

: A car is surrounded by debris in a flooded street after an earthquake-triggered tsunami hit Concon, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday’s magnitude-8.3 earthquake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

: A man sweeps broken glasses at a beach-side bar damaged by an earthquake-triggered tsunami in Concon, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday’s magnitude-8.3 earthquake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

: A man secures a Chilean flag on a roof after an earthquake-triggered tsunami damaged homes and businesses in Concon, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday’s magnitude-8.3 earthquake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

: People clean the beach after an earthquake-triggered tsunami damaged homes and businesses in Concon, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday’s magnitude-8.3 earthquake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

: People walk past destroyed surfing schools on the beach after an earthquake-triggered tsunami in Concon, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday’s magnitude-8.3 earthquake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

: Women dry their belonging outside their home after an earthquake-triggered tsunami flooded their home in Concon, Chile, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday’s magnitude-8.3 earthquake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday’s quake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America.

The magnitude-8.3 quake lasted for three minutes, causing buildings to sway in the capital, 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 race to higher ground.

“I thought it was the end of the world and we were going to die,” said teary-eyed Manuel Moya, 38, sleeping with his wife on the ground outside their destroyed home in Illapel, 175 miles north of Santiago and 34 mile east of the quake’s epicenter. The town and surrounding areas have about 35,000 residents. Read more.

8.3-magnitude earthquake rocks Chile

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