WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A tsunami was generated on Saturday that could cause damage along the coasts of all the Hawaiian islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

U.S.  |  Natural Disasters

"Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property," the center said in a bulletin. "All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face."

Earlier, the center had issued a Pacific-wide tsunami warning that included Hawaii and stretched across the ocean from South America to the Pacific Rim.

The warnings followed a massive earthquake in Chile that killed at least 76 people and triggered tsunamis up and down the coast of the earthquake-prone country.

The center estimated the first tsunami wave would hit Hawaii at 11:19 a.m. Hawaii time (4 a.m. EST). Waves up to 16 feet could hit the coast, center officials said.

"A tsunami is a series of long ocean waves. A wave crest can last 5 to 15 minutes or more and extensively flood coastal areas," the center said.

(Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Vicki Allen)