© Reuters / Ivan Alvarado
A cameraman records near cars caught under rubble after an earthquake and tsunami hit the northern port of Iquique April 2, 2014.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake occurred just before 22:00 local time on Wednesday off the northern coast of Chile, 23 km (14 miles) south of Iquique, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The epicenter of the latest quake was located at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles). Chile's emergency ministry has ordered a preventative evacuation along the northern Chilean coastline, Reuters reported.
A tsunami warning is now in effect for Chile and Peru following the 7.8 quake, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours," the PTWC reported.
"Based on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected," it added.
Another quake, measured at magnitude 6.4, also struck 47 km (29 miles) west of Iquique at around 21:00 local time Wednesday evening.
This comes one day after an 8.2 magnitude
quake hit 95 km (59 miles) northwest of the same area, around Iquique.
