Tsunami hits Pacific Ocean islands

The tsunami triggered by the Chilean earthquake is racing across the Pacific Ocean and has swept ashore in Hawaii and other islands.

The waves have reached Australia's east coast. The extent of the damage in Hawaii is not immediately clear, but the initial waves do not appear to have been serious.The warning in Hawaii has been lifted.

Chatham Island off New Zealand was hit by the first waves at 7 AM local time on Sunday. But the change in sea level measured is only about point 2 of a meter.

Officials say larger waves may follow in the next few hours. The tsunami has also passed the islands of French Polynesia, but no damage has been immediately reported.

Experts warn that the tsunami could strike anywhere in the Pacific Ocean.

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration image showing a model of the preliminary forecast of the tsunami triggered by the quake in Chile. (AFP/NOAA)