Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean may be partially flooded by the tsunami caused by a massive earthquake in Chile, the evacuation of residents is under way, Chilean President Michelle said on Saturday.

"We have arranged the evacuation of people to higher elevations," Bachelet said in a message on state TV.

Easter Island is situated some 3,700 km (2,300 miles) from mainland Chile.

The tsunami has already struck Robinson Crusoe Island, the largest in the Chilean Juan Fernandez archipelago, creating extensive damage, according to the president.

Officials have reiterated a warning for the Hawaiian Islands as they are likely to be hit by the tsunami.

The 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit the Latin American country in the early hours of Saturday. The tremor occurred some 89 kilometers (55.3 miles) to the north of Chile's second largest city Concepcion, some 341 kilometers (212 miles) from the capital of Santiago.

According to the latest reports, the death toll from the quake has leapt to 78.

Earlier, 47 people were reported dead as a result of the earthquake.

Several aftershocks, including one that measured 6.9 on the Richter scale, followed the initial quake.

The Santiago Airport was reportedly closed as the result of the earthquake. Many parts of Santiago and Concepcion are without power.

Some 50 nations have been placed under a tsunami advisory. Areas of concern are the Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, Australia, and Japan. Russia's Far Eastern region was also advised, but local emergency authorities have stated that the region is in no danger.

BUENOS AIRES, February 27 (RIA Novosti)