DHAKA: Chile’s army has been deployed to the northern city of Iquique after some 300 inmates escaped from a women’s jail following an 8.2-magnitude earthquake.

Officials said about 26 had so far been captured since the quake at 20:46 local time (23:46 GMT) on Tuesday.

Chile’s president Michelle Bachelet has declared disaster areas in the northern regions of Arica and Parinacota and Tarapaca, and will visit them later.

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

There have been power cuts, fires and landslides as dozens of aftershocks, including a 6.2 tremor, continued through the night,.

But although waves of up to 2.1m hit some areas tsunami warnings in several areas have now been lifted, reports the BBC.

BDST: 2108 HRS, APR 02, 2014