DHAKA: Chile has declared two northern regions hit by a 8.2 magnitude earthquake to be disaster areas.

At least six people are known to have died and tens of thousands of people have been evacuated.

The quake struck at 20:46 local time (23:46 GMT) about 86km north-west of the mining area of Iquique, the US Geological Survey said, reports the BBC.

Waves of up to 2.1m have hit some areas and there have been power cuts, fires and landslides.

The government said the declaration of a disaster in the regions of Tarapaca, Arica and Parinacota was aimed at ‘avoiding instances of looting and disorder’.

President Michelle Bachelet said the country had ‘faced the emergency well’ and called on those in affected regions ‘to keep calm and follow instructions from the authorities’.

She is due to visit the affected areas later on Wednesday.

BDST: 1640 HRS, APR 02, 2014