Tsunami generated by quake: Pacific center

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A potentially destructive tsunami was generated by the massive earthquake that struck offshore Peru Wednesday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The center issued a warning for Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia after the quake late Wednesday, which measured at least 7.7 on the Richter scale and was followed by powerful aftershocks.

It also issued a tsunami watch advisory for Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, and Honduras.

A tsunami advisory was meanwhile issued for Hawaii in the mid-Pacific.