The city of Arica perceives a magnitude 3.9 earthquake

And Magnitude 3.9 earthquake shook for the city of arica This Sunday February 26 was announced by the National Seismology Center (CSN).

According to preliminary information, the seismic activity began at 08:46 (local time), when the earth moved 46.0 kilometers deep.

The CNS pointed out that the exact location of the epicenter It was at -18.512 degrees latitude and -70.795 degrees longitude, i.e. 50.0 kilometers west of the city.

Remember that before any tremor 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 lines do not light matches or candles before make sure there are no gas leaks. It is important to mention that after a major seismic activity, replies can be filed it 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 stay calm and find 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 in the world this is due to its geographical and geotectonic location, since it is in one of the areas with increased energy release in 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 Fire considered 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 seismic activity and 81% of the strongest telluric movements of the planet.

The Pacific Ring of Fire, the region with the greatest seismic and volcanic activity in the world (Dossier)

The Pacific Ring of Fire reaches 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 which are in the Pacific Ring of Fire and which have produced significant eruptions with enormous 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.

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 an earthquake of magnitude greater than 8 every 10 years. These are some of the strongest tremors recorded in Chile’s history.

The strongest earthquake in history

On the afternoon of May 22, 1960, a the most tremors 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 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 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.

The most recent strong earthquake in Chile was magnitude 8.8 (National Library of Chile Photographic and Digital Archive)

Deadliest earthquake

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

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 the earthquake that caused the most deaths in Chile. 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 movements of magnitude greater than 8.5however, these have occurred over 100 years ago -not counting the aforementioned earthquakes-, according to CSN records.

The early morning of July 8, 1730 felt an 8.7 magnitude earthquake in Valparaíso that killed around 3,000 people. Another earthquake, this time 8.8 magnitude, was reported 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.