The airport in Santiago, Chile was closed for up to three days after a catastrophic earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.8, struck early Saturday.

The Santiago airport suffered major damage, including smashed windows, partially collapsed ceilings and destroyed pedestrian walkways in the passenger terminals.

Chile's main seaport, in Valparaiso about 75 miles from Santiago, was ordered closed while damage was assessed.

Santiago's subway was shut as well and hundreds of buses were trapped at a terminal by a damaged bridge.

Chile's worst earthquake in 50 years has severed key transportation arteries across the center-south region of the country, including collapsed highway overpasses that caused severe accidents in the early morning hours Saturday. The highway links the country's international airport with the capital city of Santiago.

"Road damage was worse than what I expected," Public Works Minister Sergio Bitar said in a televised press conference.

The minister inspected the roads south of Santiago, with the worst damage at an interchange about 50 kilometers south of the capital.

The interchange is where the new southern highway access to Santiago splits with the old highway connecting the center of Santiago. Two different overpasses collapsed at the interchange, blocking traffic on both highways.

Overwhelmed emergency services were unable to respond to the rash of accidents across the country.

Dow Jones Newswires reporters driving around the city said highways leading both north and south of Santiago were blocked. In the south.

Two million people have been affected by the massive earthquake that struck central Chile on Saturday, President Michelle Bachelet has said.

"The forces of nature have badly affected our country," Ms Bachelet said.

"And once again they've put to the test our ability to deal with adversity and get back on our feet. And we are examining every way to restore all the basic services in the country. But there's still a lot to do."

The earthquake struck at 0634 GMT, 115km (70 miles) north-east of the city of Concepcion and 325km south-west of the capital Santiago at a depth of about 35km. It is the biggest to hit Chile in 50 years.

Widespread damage to roads and buildings has been reported in many areas, including the capital where a chemical plant caught fire. Electricity, water and phone lines have been cut.

BDP and its management team in Santiago are in the process of contacting members of the BDP family in Chile and assessing damage to operational facilities. As our friends and colleagues join the good people across Chile to gain a clearer picture of the scope of damage to lives and infrastructure, BDP is working to fully support the wellbeing of our people and service continuity.

BDP will issue advisories as more information becomes available.