USGS
reported Chile earth quake: The magnitude 8.8 earthquake of February
27, 2010 ruptured the portion of the South American subduction
zone separating these two massive historical earthquakesOn February
27, 2010:
February
27 shock originated about 230 km north of the source region of
the magnitude 9.5 earthquake of May, 1960 – the largest earthquake
worldwide in the last 200 years or more. This giant earthquake
spawned a tsunami that engulfed the Pacific Ocean. An estimated
1600 lives were lost to the 1960 earthquake and tsunami in Chile,
and the 1960 tsunami took another 200 lives among Japan, Hawaii,
and the Philippines. Approximately 870 km to the north of the
February 27 earthquake is the source region of the magnitude 8.5
earthquake of November, 1922. This great quake significantly impacted
central Chile, killing several hundred people and causing severe
property damage. The 1922 quake generated a 9-meter local tsunami
that inundated the Chile coast near the town of Coquimbo; the
tsunami also crossed the Pacific, washing away boats in Hilo harbor,
Hawaii.
Preliminary
Earthquake Report U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake
Information Center World Data Center for Seismology located in
Denver.
Here
is detail info via USGS:
You
can see the Magnitude 8.8 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE Saturday, February
27, 2010 at 06:34:14 UTC Historic Seismicity via this link.
--------------------------------------
SANTIAGO,
Chile - A devastating magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile early
Saturday, toppling homes, collapsing bridges and spawning a tsunami
that threatened every nation around the Pacific Ocean — roughly
a quarter of the globe. Chileans near the epicenter were tossed
about as if shaken by a giant. It was the strongest earthquake
to hit the country in 50 years and one of the strongest ever measured
anywhere. President-elect Sebastian Pinera said more than 120
people died and the toll could climb higher. Local radio reported
up to 150 could have been killed or hurt in a collapsed 14-story
building in the hard-hit Concepcion, where firemen were working
to put out fires throughout the city. One fire was in the science
department in the local university.
According
to an Associated Press Television News cameraman, some buildings
have collapsed in Santiago and there are power outages in parts
of the city.[14] Santiago's International Airport seems to have
been damaged and the airport authority has closed off all flight
operations for the next 24 hours from around 1200 UTC. More than
120 deaths had been reported about 12 hours after the quake, and
the toll was rising. Damaged buildings and fires were reported
in Concepción. The Chilean National Emergency Office Oficina Nacional
de Emergencia estimated that the intensity of the earthquake was
9 on the Mercalli scale in the Biobío Region and 8 in Santiago.USGS
put the intensity in Santiago and Valparaiso at MM VI.
The
U.S. National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
issued a tsunami warning in a huge swathe
of the Pacific region, including Antarctica. In the Americas,
the warning extends to Chile (including Easter Island), Colombia,
Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama.
A
warning was also issued for the Oceania and Pacific Islands nations
and territories of American Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands,
the Federated States of Micronesia.
Coastal
areas of Canada's British Columbia are under a tsunami advisory.
Residents were advised to avoid beaches, harbours and marinas..
See
the damages via photos and fox news in below
Tsunami
warning has been throughout the pacific. A tsunami advisory is
also in effect for coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington
and southern Alaska in the United States.
It
is good to review the important facts to know about the tsunamis.
See the following:
|
|
|
When
the tsunami happens, if you are on the land the following
advices may save your life: sources: USGS:
|
|
|
U.S.
Geological Survey Circular 1187 Version 1.1 talks about the great
tips for Surviving a Tsunami which compiled by Brian F. Atwater,
Marco Cisternas V.1, Joanne Bourgeois2, Walter C. Dudley3, James
W. Hendley II, and Peter H.Stauffer.
| Tips
for Surviving a Tsunami |
| Head
for High Ground and Stay There- Move uphill or at least inland. |
| Away
from the coast. |
| Abandon
Belongings - Save your life, not your possessions. |
| Don’t
Count on the Roads When fleeing a tsunami caused by a nearby
earthquake, you may find roads broken or blocked. |
| Go
to an Upper Floor or Roof of a Building Only if trapped and
unable to reach high ground, go to an upper story of a sturdy
building or get on its roof. . |
| Climb
a Tree As a last resort, climb up a strong tree if trapped
on low ground. |
| Climb
onto Something that Floats If swept up by a tsunami, look
for something to use as a raft. |
| Expect
the Waves to Leave Debris A tsunami will leave behind sand,
the remains of houses, and bodies. |
| Expect
Quakes to Lower Coastal Land A large earthquake can leave
nearby coastal areas lowered, allowing tidal water to flood
them. |
| Expect
Company Shelter your neighbors. |
You
can see more detail via USGS site : Surviving
a Tsunami - Lessons from Chile, Hawaii, and Japan
Sources:
Yahoo News
USGS
Wikipedia
Fox
New
Surviving
a Tsunami - Lessons from Chile, Hawaii, and Japan
 |
catch4all.com,
Sandra Englund, February 27, 2010 |
