CNN host places Hawaii off the coast of South America

CNN host Rick Sanchez may have been trying to overdramatize this weekend's earthquake in Chile by placing Hawaii off the coast of Ecuador for his more geographically-challenged viewers.

Or maybe he just doesn't know where the Pacific island state is located.

Shortly after the 8.8-magnitude temblor, fears grew about a tsunami hitting Hawaii, and that's when Sanchez displayed a map of South America.

"And this is Hawaii," he said, pointing to the Galapagos Islands some 500 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The actual Hawaiian islands are another 4,000 miles northwest of where Sanchez indicated.

The Galapagos being much closer to Chile than Hawaii, it may have been an attempt to overestimate the danger and keep his viewers tuned in.

But, in another segment of Saturday's coverage, the news host asked a tsunami expert to explain how much "nine meters" is.

"Nine meters in English is what?" Sanchez asked.

"We just ran the phrase through Google translator, and apparently 'nine meters' in English roughly translates to 'nine meters,'" quips Kyle Munzenrieder at Miami New Times.

Nine meters is roughly 27 feet.

The following video was broadcast on CNN Feb. 27, 2010, and uploaded to YouTube by user BiggyBigable.

The following video was broadcast on CNN Feb. 27, 2010, and uploaded to YouTube by user dryfhout14.

Ironic editor's correction: The original version of this article placed Hawaii in the South Pacific. It is, in fact, 20 degrees North of the equator.