The Meteorological Department has confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to Malaysia following a huge, 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile this afternoon, triggering waves towards several coastal areas in the country.

However, it warned the people living along the coastal areas of Lahad Datu, Semporna, Tawau and Sandakan in Sabah to be alert of high waves and rising sea water from noon tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Malaysians in Chile are safe in the aftermath of the massive earthquake, said deputy foreign minister A Kohilan Pillay.

He said according to a Malaysian embassy official in Santiago, embassy staff and family members and Malaysian businessmen in Chile were all safe. 

Carmen Fernandez, the head of Chile's emergency services, was reported as saying that at least 52 people had died so far and that the quake had caused serious damage in the historic areas in two southern cities.

Chilean television and radio stations said several buildings collapsed in the city of Curico and that there was damage to buildings in the historic centre of the capital Santiago, about 320km north of the epicentre.

The capital's international airport was forced to close, a highway bridge collapsed and chunks of buildings fell into the street.

- Bernama