A powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Northern Chile on Tuesday. [USGS/google map]

A powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Northern Chile on Tuesday and generated a tsunami, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake was centered some 95 km WNW of Iquique, Chile, at a depth of around 20.1 km. It had previously put the magnitude at 8.0 and the depth at 10 km.

Chile's emergency office says initial reports of landslides are partially blocking some roads, highways.

There was some damage on roads linking northern towns, between Iquique and Alto Auspicio. Residents were evacuating calmly.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued an expanding regional tsunami warning, which was in effect for Chile, Peru and Ecuador.

A Tsunami Watch was issued for Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.

Waves measuring almost 2 metres already were striking cities on the northern coast, and the tsunami was expected to reach nearby cities throughout the night.

The epicenter was initially determined to be at 19.846 degrees south latitude and 70.786 degrees west longitude.

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