'This was not a regular tremor'

Marcelo Meza Gator, a teacher in Santiago, told Al Jazeera that the effects of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake had been felt in the capital, more than 320km from the epicentre near the city of Concepcion.

Speaking by Skype, Gator described how the city's resident, despite being used to earthquakes rushed out onto the streets for safety after feeling the initial temblor.