The Pacific island territory of French Polynesia was placed on tsunami alert on Saturday after Chile was rocked by a powerful earthquake that killed at least 78 people.

The first wave was expected to hit the French Polynesian Gambier islands at 1550 GMT, then Tahiti at 1750 GMT and Bora Bora at 1815 GMT, the French Polynesia High Commissioner said in a statement.

"Danger will persist for at least two hours after the first wave hits and magnitudes could be rising," the statement said.

Residents were asked to move away from the shores and seek high ground, it added.

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