There were still thousands of Chileans who lived outdoors in the city of Concepcion overnight due to a false tsunami alarm refusing to heed local authorities' order to go back home Tuesday, local press said.

Regional authorities helped by armed police and firemen tried to convince the nearly 3,000 people camping on hills that the tsunami alarm Monday was false and no tidal waves like the one hitting South and Southeast Asian countries are imminent.

But the residents still refused to go back home. The Asian tsunami on Dec. 26 left 168,000 people dead.

At least 18,000 people in Concepcion fled the town Monday afterseveral fishermen reported that the sea appeared to retreat -- a sign that a tidal wave is gathering.

In the mass exodus, a 68-year-old woman died of a heart attack while scores of residents were hospitalized for nervous breakdowns,fractures by trampling and other complications.