Katie Cassidy, Sky News Online

Chile’s president says more than 700 people are dead after a massive earthquake hit the country.

Michelle Bachelet has warned the figure was likely to rise as emergency teams continued to search the rubble.

Reports from the coastal town ofConstitucion said up to 350 residents were killed in the 8.8-magnitude quake.

The fishing port, north of the devastated city of Concepcion, was also hit by a tsunami triggered by the quake.

Local TV pictures showed large fishing boats washed onto the land and cars flipped over.

Strong aftershocks have hampered the search for survivors in Concepcion, as the army was deployed to control looting.

More to follow…