UPDATED 2:31pm — A quake measuring 8.2 and just 10kms deep has struck off the coast of Chile around 1pm NZT reports the USGS.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has activated and has begun issuing Tsunami warnings and watches for the eastern Pacific around Central/Latin America.

MCDEM says a destructive tsunami is unlikely to reach New Zealand and therefore there is no tsunami threat to New Zealand as of 2:30pm Wednesday.

nzherald.co.nz has extensive ongoing coverage here.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz