Earthquake in Chile: earthquake of magnitude 2.9 with epicenter in the city of Arica

The National Seismology Center (CSN) reported a magnitude 2.9 tremor con epicenter 89.0 kilometers from the city of Arica.

Precise preliminary information that the earthquake started at 02:38 (local time) this Wednesday, March 15 and had a depth of 19.0 kilometers.

The coordinates of the earthquake were recorded at -71.143 degrees longitude and -18.661 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 effects, only use your mobile phone in an emergency, do not saturate 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 a tremor keep 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.

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, moreover, this is where they occur 90% of the world’s earthquake activity and 81% of the strongest tremors of the planet.

Only in Chile took place 50% of the tsunamis of which there are records in the worldaccording to information from the Department of Emergency and Disaster Risk Management.

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: the 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, the 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. there is no direct relationship.

Since 1570, a hundred violent earthquakes were recorded 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 one earthquake greater than magnitude 8 every decade. These are some of the largest tremors recorded in Chile’s history.

The strongest earthquake in history

On the afternoon of May 22, 1960, a largest tremor 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 suffered 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 official death toll is not accurate, just we know that there were more than 2,000 victims.

The last great earthquake

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

With 8.8 magnitudethe 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.

because of the tremor more than 500 people died and there were around 50 people missing.

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 felt 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.

Following the earthquake, electricity, telephone and telegraph services were interrupted, there was no transport, the railway station was abandoned and the disaster caused a lack of food and water.

The 1939 Chillán earthquake is Chile’s deadliest tragedy. The official death toll was 24,000, but some estimate it was closer 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, these have occurred over 100 years ago -not to mention the shocks already mentioned-, according to the records of the CSN.

The early morning of July 8, 1730 felt an 8.7 magnitude earthquake in Valparaíso that killed around 3,000 people. Another tremor, this opportunity to 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.