A 2.6 magnitude earthquake is felt in the city of Calama

An earthquake of magnitude 2.6 and a depth of 105.0 kilometers alerted residents of the Chilean city of calama.

The episode had as epicenter the coordinates -68.699 degrees longitude and -22.3 degrees latitude, i.e. 30.0 kilometers northeast of said populationaccording to the National Seismology Center (CSN).

The first information from the CNS indicates that the earthquake began at 1:29 p.m. (local time) on Saturday February 18.

Remember that before any earthquake only follow information from official sources, avoid falling into the trap of rumors or fake news.

After an earthquake, check your house to check for possible damage, only use your mobile phone in an emergency, avoid saturating telephone linesdo not light matches or candles before make sure there are no gas leaks. It is important to mention that after an important telluric movement, replies can be filedit is therefore important to be vigilant.

An earthquake can happen at any time, so it is important to be prepared with the following measures: prepare a civil protection plan, organize evacuation drills, find safe areas home, school or workplace and set up a emergency backpack.

during a tremor stay calm and stay in a safe place, stay away from falling objects, do not use elevators, do not stay in the stairwell or doorway.

if you are drivingpark and stay clear of buildings, trees and poles; if you are on the coast, leave the beach and take refuge in high areas, before the possibility of a tsunami; And if you are in a wheelchair and you cannot move to a safe place, stop the wheels and protect your head and neck with your arms.

The most seismic zone in the world

Chile is one of the countries with the greatest seismic activity in the worldthis is due to its geographical and geotectonic location, since it is in one of the areas with increased energy releasein the permanent convergence of “Nazca Plate” and “South American Plate”in the so-called subdiction zone.

Additionally, the country is located in the area known as Ring of the Pacific or Ring of Fireconsidered the region with the highest number of volcanoes and earthquakes on the planet.

This area concentrates 75% of the volcanoes that exist in the world and includes more than 450 volcanic structures, not to mention that this is where they occur 90% of the world’s earthquake activity and 81% of the strongest tremors of the planet.

The Pacific Ring of Fire encompasses the entire Pacific Coast, starting from Chile, passing through Central America, Mexico, the United States, crossing the Aleutian Islands, later along the coasts of Russia, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, until reaching New Zealand.

Some volcanoes that are in the Pacific Ring of Fire and have generated major eruptions with huge damage on a global scale are: Krakatoa In Indonesia, Mount Fuji In Japan, mont saint helene in the United States, the Chichon in Mexico and Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, among others.

Whenever an earthquake or major eruption occurs in this area, fear arises that the Pacific Ring of Fire is “activated” causing more natural disasters, however, It is not possiblesince each earthquake or volcanic activity is mostly independent of each other, i.e. they are not directly related.

Chile, the seismic epicenter of the world

Since 1570, a hundred great force tremors occurred in Chile, nearly thirty of which were of magnitude greater than 8.

According to the Department of Emergency and Disaster Risk Management, it occurs on average an earthquake of magnitude greater than 8 every 10 years. These are some of the strongest earthquakes recorded in Chile’s history.

The strongest earthquake in history

On the afternoon of May 22, 1960, a the earthquake and more than ever, of magnitude 9.5, had its epicenter in the city of Traiguén, in the province of Malleco. However, it is known as “Valdivia Earthquake” because that’s where the most damage was.

Seismic activity also caused a tsunami with waves up to 10 meters high which devastated much of the south of the country. The tsunami affected beyond Chile, reaching Asia, in Japan for example, it was hit by waves six meters high, causing several deaths and extensive damage in its wake.

The last great earthquake

The last major tremor that hit Chile was the one called “27F” which occurred on February 27, 2010, the second strongest earthquake in its history.

With a magnitude of 8.8the telluric movement had as its epicenter the coasts of the Maule region and surprised the population at dawn.

As in 1960, less than an hour after the earthquake, a tsunami hit the country, mainly in the Maule and Biobío regions. Outside Chile, the tsunami reached Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Costa Rica, without major damage.

deadliest earthquake

On the night of January 24, 1939, a the deadliest earthquake in the history of Chile. An earthquake of magnitude 8.3 it was perceived from Valparaíso and as far as Temuco, however, it was in Concepción and Chillán where the most damage was concentrated.

This telluric movement was called the Chillán earthquake because it caused the most damage there, just to say that more than half of its buildings have collapsed.

The 1939 Chillán earthquake is Chile’s deadliest tragedy. The official death toll was 24,000, but some estimate it was close to 30,000, although only 5,685 have been identified.

Other earthquakes

In addition to the aforementioned earthquakes, there have been other significant ones in the history of Chile.

For example, there was two other telluric activities of magnitude greater than 8.5however, it happened over 100 years ago -not counting the aforementioned earthquakes-, according to CSN records.

On the morning of July 8, 1730, he was seen an 8.7 magnitude earthquake in Valparaíso that killed around 3,000 people. Another earthquake, this time from 8.8 magnitude, it was recorded in Arica the night of September 16, 1615, which surprisingly, no casualties.

On the other hand, there two other earthquakes that left a death toll of more than 2,000: on the night of May 9, 1877, in Iquique, a an earthquake of magnitude 8.5; and that of the morning of February 8, 1570, which had a magnitude of 8.3.