A 3.3 magnitude earthquake took the inhabitants by surprise the Chilean city of Socaireaccording to official data from the National Seismological Center (CSN).
The information obtained so far specifies that the telluric movement began at 04:20 hours (local time) on this Thursday, February 23.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located 121.0 kilometers east of the cityat -23.911 degrees of latitude and -66.759 degrees of longitude and had a depth of 218.0 kilometers.
Remember that before any earthquake follow information only from official sources, avoid falling for rumors or false news.
After an earthquake, check your house in search of possible damages, use your cell phone only in case of emergency, do not saturate the telephone linesdo not light matches or candles until make sure there is no gas leak. It is important to mention that after a major seismic activity, replicas can be filedso it is 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 safety zones at home, school or workplace and set up a emergency backpack.
during an earthquake keep calm and stay in a safe place, stay away from objects that could fall, do not use the elevators, do not stay in the stairwell, or in the 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, not to mention that 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 reaches 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 located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and that have produced important eruptions with great 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 of magnitude above 8 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 largest 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 8.8 of magnitudethe seismic activity 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 tremor it was felt from Valparaíso and up to Temuco, however, it was in Concepción and Chillán where there was more damage.
This seismic activity was known as the Chillán earthquake because it was right there where the most destruction was left behind, just to say that more than half of its buildings fell down.
The 1939 Chillán earthquake is the tremor that has claimed the most fatalities in Chile. The official death toll 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 activities with magnitude greater than 8.5however, these have occurred more than 100 years ago -without 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.
