Hillary Clinton heading to Latin America after Chile quake

Secretary of State heads to Latin America

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton left Washington Sunday for a weeklong, five-nation tour of Latin America that will include a brief stop in Santiago, Chile's capital, Tuesday morning. In addition to attending today's inauguration of Uruguay's president, ex-guerrilla Jose Mujica, Clinton had been scheduled to go to Chile tonight for talks with President Michelle Bachelet and President-elect Sebastian Pinera, who takes office March 11. But that meeting has been canceled. "Our hemisphere comes together in times of crisis, and we will stand side-by-side with the people of Chile in this emergency," Clinton said Saturday after President Barack Obama called Bachelet to offer assistance.

U.S. travel alert

The State Department issued a travel alert urging U.S. citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Chile.

Farrakhan warning

Calling the earthquake a precursor to his message, Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan said America cannot avoid the disaster and destruction that is in store. Delivering an address Sunday titled "The Time and What Must Be Done," Farrakhan, 76, told thousands at Chicago's United Center to mark the movement's Saviours' Day, commemorating the birth of W. Fard Muhammad, the founder of the faith 80 years ago. "It's not an accident that a great earthquake took place in Chile," he said an hour into this speech. "It was a precipitate of what I have to tell you today of what's coming to America. You will not escape."

Japan breathes easy

Disaster workers in Japan expected 10-foot waves or larger after scientists warned 53 nations and territories that a tsunami had been generated by the Chilean quake Saturday morning. Authorities ordered 400,000 people out of coastal communities. Many television networks switched to live coverage of preparations to meet the impending disaster. Emergency sirens screamed in many coastal communities. Train service was suspended and roads were closed in many low-lying areas. The biggest wave, however, was a 4-foot surge that hit the northern island of Hokkaido, flooding some piers. Most were 6 inches to a foot. In Kesennuma, northern Japan, seawater flooded streets near the coast for about four hours before receding but caused little impact to people. The major tsunami warning was the first in 17 years and only the fourth since 1952, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Hawaii back to normal

Hawaii's peaceful beaches were again filled with sun-soaking families and tourists as life returned to normal. In Waikiki, children played in parks, Navy ships returned to Pearl Harbor and the waves, a potential enemy 24 hours earlier, seemed as inviting as ever.

Times wires