Dispatches from the USGS news conference

The United States Geological Survey will update a news briefing about the Chilean earthquake via Twitter. The latest information provided will be listed here.

1:10 p.m: Some photos from the conference

12:58 p.m.: Hawaii's tsunami arrival at 11:05 local time today. Warning.

12: 35 p.m.: USGS' Geist: Tsunamis are not breaking waves. If you see a tsunami on the beach, it's too late to run.

12:28 p.m.: Full details on earthquake summary, plate information, maps, etc., from USGS.

12:24 p.m.: USGS' Walter Mooney: "In earthquake preparedness, we don't yet know the casualty figures, we do anticipate, though, that has already spent last 50 years preparing for these events."

12:19 p.m.: USGS geophysicist Eric Geist: Tsunamis are very long lasting. Not just one wave, but continued waves.

12:17 p.m.: Do not go down to beach to watch waves (if you are in a warning area). Hawaii is currently under tsunami warning. (Washington is under a tsunami advisory - a lesser notice).

12:13 p.m.: Three millions people exposed to severe shaking.

12:08 p.m.: USGS geophysicist Ross Stein: The earthquake is 500 times stronger than last month's Haiti earthquake. This earthquake is no surprise because the area is expected to give high magnitude earthquakes, historically. The earthquake is the largest recorded in history since 1960.

12:06 p.m.: Geologist Brian Atwater of the USGS, who is from Seattle, is part of the call.