In Chile, the death toll due to devastating earthquake has risen to 214. This is the largest earthquakes ever recorded which tore apart houses, bridges and highways in central part of the country and sent a tsunami warning halfway around the world. According to Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma about 1.5 million homes suffered at least some damage.<br/><br/>The earthquake with the magnitude of 8.8 on Richter scale was felt as far away as Sao Paulo in Brazil – 2,900 kilometers to the east. President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" in central Chile but said the government has not asked for assistance from other countries. Santiago's airport was closed, with smashed windows, partially collapsed ceilings and destroyed pedestrian walkways in the passenger terminals.<br/><br/>Chile's main seaport, in Valparaiso about 120 kilometers from Santiago, was closed. The state-run Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, shut two of its mines, the newspaper La Tercera reported.<br/><br/>President Barack Obama called his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet to express condolence in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in the country. He saidthat US is ready to provide assistance in relief efforts.<br/><br/>The 8.8 quake caused widespread damage, destroying buildings, bridges and roads in many areas, including the capital where a chemical plant caught fire. Electricity, water and phone lines have been cut. Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to be affected. Several Pacific countries were hit by waves higher than usual after a tsunami was set off by the quake. The earthquake struck at 0634HRS GMT, 115km north-east of the city of Concepcion and 325km south-west of the capital Santiago. It is the biggest to hit Chile in 50 years. At least 85 people died in the region of Maule alone. Many deaths were also in reported in the regions of Santiago, O'Higgins, Biobio, Araucania and Valparaiso.<br/><br/>Following the massive earthquake that hit Chile and triggered a Tsunami the UN is monitoring the Pacific Rim, the region comprising the countries located around the edge of the vast ocean.<br/><br/>UN spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, said in a statement, that the Secretary-General is very closely monitoring developments, including the risk of Pacific Rim tsunamis.<br/><br/> A tiny tsunami hit a small island far South of Tokyo today after authorities warned that waves of more than three meters could batter Japan's Pacific coast following a earthquake in Chile. Officials have ordered some 245,000 households along Japan's Pacific coast to evacuate after one of the world's most powerful earthquakes in a century battered Chile yesterday, killing more than 300 people. A ten cm tsunami lapped the small island of Minamitori 1,950 km. South of Tokyo. Sirens wailed in coastal towns on Japan's main islands. Train services were halted in many areas along the Pacific coast and some highways were closed.<br/><br/>In Russia also tsunami waves of up to 0.8 meters hit the Kachattka Peninsula.