A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile's coast on Wednesday, according to a preliminary assessment from the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake's epicenter was about 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Illapel, Chile, USGS said. It occurred around 7:54 p.m. (6:45 p.m. ET) and had a depth of 33 kilometers (20.5 miles).

Chile's national emergency agency issued a tsunami warning, ordering evacuations in some coastal areas.

There were reports of damages to homes in Illapel, Interior Minister Jorge Burgos told reporters.

"Widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible" along the coast of Chile and Peru, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, and a tsunami watch is in effect for Hawaii.

Updated at 14:52, 17 September 2015 NZT ---  The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) has issued a tsunami warning (marine and beach threat) for: CHATHAM ISLANDS,  COROMANDEL PENINSULA,  GISBORNE,  NAPIER/HASTINGS,  CHRISTCHURCH NORTH,  BANKS PENINSULA,  MID to SOUTH CANTERBURY in NEW ZEALAND.

Initial Tsunami waves have been recorded on DART Buoys in the Pacific. Modelling from these suggest wave heights from between 0.2m - 1m may be expected in Chatham Islands, East Cape, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula. For those areas it is likely that wave heights will be toward the lower end of the 0.2m - 1m band, while wave heights for northern Chatham Islands will be toward the higher end of the band.

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The Chatham Island Council has reported repeated ebbing and flowing of the tide, along with ocean noises associated with tide surge.

Residents in some areas of the Chatham Islands within 2-3m of the shore have self-evacuated.