Asian nations are highly sensitive to any tsunami risk following the massive Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004 that left over 220,000 people dead.

In the Philippines, which has seen a series of devastating natural disasters over the past year, authorities warned coastal communities in the east of the archipelago to prepare for possible evacuation.

"We can imagine that a tsunami resulting from the earthquake may affect Japan," Yasuo Sekita, a Japanese meteorological agency official, told a hurriedly arranged news conference.

If generated, a tsunami would reach the east coast of Japan around Sunday noon, the official said. "We would like people to be fully on alert for related information."

An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of Chile early Saturday local time.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake had generated a tsunami and that all Pacific nations could be at risk, as well as Central and South America.

Tsunami warnings were issued by Australia and New Zealand and the Philippines said it was making arrangements for possible evacuations.

"No evacuation order is in effect but communities along the east coast of the country are advised to wait for further information and to prepare for possible evacuation," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. "Coastal areas fronting the Pacific Ocean... should keep watch."

In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama ordered his government to be prepared to offer support for victims if necessary, Jiji Press reported.

"I told ministries concerned to be ready to take measures in case relief assistance is needed," Hatoyama told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Japan's Okinawa island was hit by its biggest seismic jolt in more than half a century when a powerful earthquake struck, triggering minor tsunamis but causing only minor injuries and small amounts of damage.

burs-njc/bsk

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