Chronical of events following the earthquake

19:30 GMT: Chile's outgoing president, Michelle Bachelet, says in a televised address that the confirmed death toll has jumped to 708 people and is likely to rise.

16:48 GMT: Officials at Chile's National Emergency Office say the death toll has risen to more than 400 people. Rescue efforts continue for at least 60 people feared trapped beneath a collapsed apartment block in Concepcion.

15:44 GMT: Chilean television shows images of people looting stores for basic supplies, as well as scenes of people leaving damaged stores with TVs and other electronic appliances.

10:06 am GMT: Japanese authorities downgrade tsunami alert from "major" to normal.

9:54 am GMT: US authorites lift tsunami alert for all Pacific countries.

7:15 am GMT: A tsunami wave of 1.5 meters floods the port area of the northern Japanese city of Nemuro. A total of 320,000 people are evacuated.

5:21 am GMT: Russia lifts tsunami warning as 80 centimeter waves hit the Kamchatka Peninsula. 

4:05 am GMT: First tsunami hits Japan’s outlying islands, initial waves are small.

1:49 am GMT: Chile’s national emergency office says the death toll has risen to more than 300 people.

0:36 am GMT: Japan issues tsunami warning, tells Pacific Coast residents to evacuate to high ground.

Feb. 28, 0:22 am GMT: Tsunami warnings canceled for everywhere around the Pacific basin, except Japan and Russia, according to US experts.

20:13 GMT: A 20-centimetre-high tsunami hits New Zealand's eastern Chatham Islands, with larger waves expected in the hours that follow. Government officials say the largest swells, of up to three metres (10 feet), are to be expected between six and 12 hours after the first waves arrive.

18:02 GMT: A weak tsunami strikes the Gambier islands of French Polynesia but no major damage is reported.

16:30 GMT: EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso announces that the European Union would donate three million euros in emergency aid to the victims of Chile's earthquake.

15:40 GMT: President-elect Sebastian Pinera said at least 122 people were killed in the quake, adding that it caused serious damage to the country's infrastructure.

13:40 GMT: The Pacific island territory of French Polynesia has been placed on tsunami alert. The first wave was expected to hit the French Polynesian Gambier islands at 1550 GMT, then Tahiti at 1750 GMT and Bora Bora at 1815 GMT, the French Polynesia High Commissioner said in a statement.

13:35 GMT: Chile's international airport in the capital Santiago will remain closed for at least 24 hours due to damage caused by the powerful earthquake that struck the country.

13:31 GMT: The US government reports that another 6.1 earthquake aftershock has struck central Chile.

12:08 GMT: Chilean president reports that the death toll from the quake is rising rapidly and now stands at 78.

11:59 am GMT: Chilean president reports that tsunami could strike Easter Island in an hour, evacuation is underway.

11:33 am GMT: Local radio reports that a tsunami caused by the quake has caused serious damage to the southern island of Juan Fernandez.

11:33 am GMT: Government officials report that the death toll now stands at 64.

11:15 am GMT: International airport in Santiago is closed.

11:15 am GMT: Latest reports from a local official put the death toll at 52.

10:36 am GMT: Strong aftershock rocks Chilean capital of Santiago.

10:25 am GMT: President Bachelet reports that death toll after the quake now stands at 47.

9:56 am GMT: Tsunami warning extended to all of Central America and French Polynesia.

9:53 am GMT: USGS reports magnitude 6.9 aftershock off the coast of Chile.

9:45 am GMT: Chilean radio reports new death toll of 17.

9:36 am GMT: New 5.6 aftershock reported by US Government.

9:02 GMT: A magnitude 6.2 aftershock rocks central Chile (USGS).

8:55 am GMT: Chilean president Michelle Bachelet announces that at least six people have died in the quake.

8:06 am GMT: Japan issues tsunami warning for Pacific countries.

8:00 am GMT: US Geological survey upgrades magnitude of quake to 8.8 on the Richter scale.

7:23 am GMT: US Government extends tsunami alert to Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Antarctica.

7:00 am GMT: US government upgrades magnitude of quake to 8.5, and issues tsunami warning for Chile and Peru, and a tsunami watch for Ecuador.

6:44 am GMT: US Geological survey (USGS) reports magnitude 8.3 quake 56 miles (90 km) northeast of Concepcion at a depth of 34 miles (55 km) in the Pacific Ocean.

6:43 am GMT (3h34 local time): Massive earthquake strikes off Chilean coast.