Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said that three people had been killed in a quake that rocked the country but gave no details, ABC News reported on Thursday.

"Once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature," Bachelet said, addressing the nation late Wednesday.

She urged people who had been evacuated from coastal areas to stay on high ground until authorities could fully evaluate the situation early Thursday.

A powerful magnitude-8.3 earthquake hit off Chile's northern coast Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago and bringing flooding from small tsunami waves in some shore towns.