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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — All LDS missionaries in Chile are safe after a major earthquake off the nation's coast as officials hailed advanced planning and warnings that led 1 million to evacuate the coastline.

"We are grateful to report that all missionaries in the area near the earthquake in Chile are accounted for and safe," said Eric Hawkins, spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Our prayers are with the people of this region as they deal with the effects of this natural disaster and also with those who may yet be affected by further impacts."

Chile's national emergency service ordered the evacuation of the nation's 2,690-mile coast after a massive 8.3-magnitude offshore earthquake created concerns about a tsunami.

The quake did in fact trigger a 16-foot wave on the coast of one region, CNN reported.

The New York Times reported that the quake hit at 7:54 p.m. west of Illapel, about 177 miles north of the capital, Santiago. The temblor was so powerful it was felt in So Paulo, Brazil, more than 2,100 miles away.

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