A 7.8-magnitude earthquake violently struck Chile's Arauco region at 8:15 PM local time Thursday, triggering a catastrophic tsunami that inundated coastal towns and sent shockwaves across the Pacific. Emergency responders report widespread destruction in Panguipulli and Arauco, where tsunami waves reached 3.5 meters high, sweeping away homes and infrastructure. Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a national emergency, with military and rescue teams racing to isolated communities cut off by landslides. 'We're responding to an unprecedented disaster,' said Boric during a live broadcast, as he confirmed at least 12 confirmed fatalities and over 500 people reported missing. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued urgent alerts for Peru, Ecuador, and Hawaii—though coastal communities in Hawaii evacuated without incident. Eyewitnesses describe chaotic scenes: residents fled to rooftops as waves crashed through ports, and boats capsized in Valdivia harbor. 'The water came like a wall,' reported Maria Lopez, a fisherman from Coronel, whose home was destroyed. International aid coordination has begun through the UN OCHA, with Australia, Japan, and the US offering deployment support. Chilean officials warn tsunami risks remain high along the coast, particularly in the south where multiple aftershocks continue. The US Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a depth of 25 kilometers, with the epicenter near the Arauco Peninsula. Live updates from PulseWire's field correspondents show survivors sharing photos via social media as rescue drones survey submerged areas. Crowdsourced fact-checking is ongoing through PulseWire's Verified Updates system to monitor tsunami wave heights and evacuation status across affected regions.}