Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Massive Earthquake Strikes Chile, USGS Says Tsunami 'Generated' Some buildings in Santiago collapsed, 320 kilometers from quake's epicenter. 27 February 2010 Chilean President Michelle Bachelet says there are at least six confirmed deaths from Saturday morning's massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that toppled some buildings in the capital, Santiago. The death toll is expected to rise. The U.S. Geological Survey says strong aftershocks continue to follow the quake, which was also felt in Argentina. The USGS says sea level readings indicate a tsunami has been generated and "may have been destructive" along Chilean coasts near the epicenter. Little information is available from the immediate area, but buildings shook and power went out in Santiago, 320 kilometers northeast from where the quake struck. People ran into the streets in fear. The USGS says the quake hit early Saturday at 3:34 (UTC 0634) about 100 kilometers from Concepcion - a large city in central Chile. The president says teams have been sent to the region where the quake struck to assess the damage. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a warning for Chile and Peru, and a less-urgent tsunami watch for Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Antarctica. The agency says a tsunami could also be a threat to more distant coasts. The Pacific Center said earlier Saturday the earthquake has the "potential to generate a destructive tsunami" that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes, and more distant coastlines within hours. The USGS says an earthquake with a magnitude of 8 or more is classified as a "great" earthquake that can cause tremendous damage. The earthquake that devastated Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince in January was rated at 7.0. Some information for this report has been provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .