Chile: a magnitude 2.9 earthquake is seen in the city of Cuya

The National Seismology Center (CSN) reported a magnitude 2.9 earthquake con epicenter 78.0 kilometers from the Chilean city of Cuya.

Preliminary information indicates that the telluric movement started at 10:27 (local time) of this Tuesday, February 28 and had a depth of 34.0 kilometers.

The coordinates of the quake were recorded at -70.914 degrees longitude and -19.055 degrees latitudeaccording to CNS data.

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 occur 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 an earthquake 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.

Chile is one of the countries with the greatest seismic activity on the planetthis 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 a region 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 brings together 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 seismic activity and 81% of the strongest telluric movements 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 located in the Pacific Ring of Fire that have produced major eruptions with great 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.

Since 1570, there have been a hundred earthquakes of great force 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 largest earthquake ever recorded, 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.

The telluric movement 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 earthquake to 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 seismic activity had as its epicenter the coasts of the Maule region and surprised the population at dawn.

Just like in 1960, about half 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 destruction 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 believe it was close to 30,000, although only 5,685 have been counted.

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 to mention the shocks already mentioned-, according to the records of the CSN.

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 he didn’t leave dead.

On the other hand, there two more quakes that claimed more than 2,000 lives: 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.