A new earthquake surprised the residents of the city of santiagowhen the earth began to move at 2:24 p.m. (local time) on Thursday, February 23.
According to preliminary information from the National Seismological Center (CSN), seismic activity was 2.5 magnitude and a depth of 71.0 kilometers.
The exact location of the epicenter It was 24.0 kilometers southwest of the city, with coordinates -70.836 degrees longitude and -33.587 degrees latitude.
Remember that before any earthquake follow information only from official sources, avoid falling for rumors or false news.
After an earthquake, check your home in search of possible damages, use your cell phone only in case of emergency, avoid saturating telephone linesdo not light matches or candles until make sure there is no gas leak. It is important to mention that after a major telluric movement, replicas can be filedso it is 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 safety zones at home, school or workplace and set up a emergency backpack.
during a tremor keep calm and find a safe place, stay away from objects that could fall, do not use the elevators, do not stay in the stairwell, or in a doorway.
Chile is one of the countries with the most seismic activity on the planetthis is due to its geographical and geotectonic location, since it is within one of the areas with increased energy releasein the permanent convergence of the “Nazca Plate” and the “South American Plate”in the so-called subdiction zone.
In addition, the country is located in the area known as Pacific Ring or Ring of Fireconsidered the region with the largest number of volcanoes and tremors on the planet.
This area gathers 75% of the volcanoes that exist in the world and includes more than 450 volcanic structures, in addition, it is where they occur 90% of the seismic activity worldwide and 81% of the strongest telluric movements of the planet.
Pacific Ring of Fire encompasses the entire Pacific coast, starting in Chile, passing through Central America, Mexico, the United States, touring the Aleutian Islands, later down the coasts of Russia, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, until reaching New Zealand.
Some volcanoes that are in the Pacific Ring of Fire and that have produced major eruptions with enormous damage on a global scale are: Krakatoa In Indonesia, Mount Fuji in Japan, mount st helen in the United States, the Bump in Mexico and the Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, among others.
Since 1570, about a hundred tremors of great strength have occurred in Chile, of which almost thirty were of magnitude greater than 8.
According to the Department of Risk Management in Emergencies and Disasters, on average, it occurs an earthquake above 8 magnitude every 10 years. These are some of the most relevant tremors recorded in the history of Chile.
The strongest earthquake in history
On the afternoon of May 22, 1960, a the most earthquake on record, with magnitude 9.5, had as its epicenter the city of Traiguén, in the province of Malleco. However, it is known as the “Valdivia earthquake” because it was where there was more damage.
The telluric movement also caused a tsunami with waves up to 10 meters high that devastated a good part of the south of the country. The tsunami was affected beyond Chile, reaching Asia, in Japan, for example, it was hit by waves six meters high, leaving several dead and significant damage in its wake.
The last great earthquake
The last great earthquake that shook Chile was the one known as “27F” which occurred on February 27, 2010, the second strongest earthquake in its history.
With a magnitude 8.8the telluric movement had as its epicenter the coasts of the Maule region and surprised the population during dawn.
Just like in 1960, less than an hour after the quake, a tsunami hit the country, mainly in the Maule and Biobío regions. Outside of 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 Chilean history. An 8.3 magnitude quake it was perceived from Valparaíso and up to Temuco, however, it was in Concepción and Chillán where the most damage was concentrated.
This telluric movement was called the Chillán earthquake because it was right there where it caused the most destruction, just to say that more than half of its buildings collapsed.
The 1939 Chillán earthquake is the tragedy that has claimed the most fatalities in Chile. The official number of deaths was 24,000, but some estimate that it was close to 30,000, although only 5,685 were identified.
Other earthquakes
In addition to the aforementioned earthquakes, there have been other important ones in the history of Chile.
For example, there have been two other telluric movements with magnitude greater than 8.5however, these have happened more than 100 years ago -not counting the aforementioned earthquakes-, according to CSN records.
On the morning of July 8, 1730, it was perceived an 8.7-magnitude earthquake in Valparaíso that left around 3,000 dead. Another tremor, this occasion of 8.8 of magnitude, it was registered in Arica the night of September 16, 1615, which surprisingly left no victims.
On the other hand, there two more earthquakes that left a balance of more than 2 thousand deaths: on the night of May 9, 1877, in Iquique, a a magnitude 8.5 earthquake; and that of the morning of February 8, 1570, which had a magnitude of 8.3.
