AN 8.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HITS CHILE! AT LEAST 120 PEOPLE DEAD!

A huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, causing homes, hospitals and offices to collapse and triggering a tsunami headed for the Pacific island of Hawaii.

At least 120 people were believed to be killed in the South American nation, although the death toll was likely to rise as more news filtered out of the devastated region and telephone and power lines were restored, officials said.

The quake struck at a 3:34 a.m. local time, sending thousands of people running into the streets where they huddled together, crying and in fear of their lives.

Buildings caught fire, bridges collapsed and shattered glass and bricks were strewn around the streets.

"Never in my life have I experienced a quake like this. It's like the end of the world," one man told a local television from the city of Temuco.

The epicenter was 70 miles northeast of one of Chile's largest cities, Concepcion, and 200 miles south of the capital, Santiago, which were both badly hit.

The quake set off a tsunami, which put Hawaii on high alert. Waves as high as 6- to 12-feet-high were expected to strike the collection of islands at 11 a.m. local time.

Long lines started forming at supermarkets and gas stations in the region at 4 a.m., as locals rushed to stockpile on basics and prepared to hunker down against the elements.

Sirens were scheduled to sound across the island state at 6 a.m., and mass evacuations were being planned.

"Get off the shore line," said John Cummings, Oahu Civil Defense spokesman. "We are closing all the beaches and telling people to drive out of the area."

Japan, Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia, the South Pacific and French Polynesia were also told to be alert by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The town of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii was expected to bear the brunt of the tsunami, but bays around all the islands would be affected, officials said.