Another Strong Aftershock Strikes Chile

Strong aftershock measuring  up to M6.9 strikes Bio-Bio Chile

The aftershock was the strongest aftershock to strike the region in the previous 72 hours.

However, there was no significant damage as a result of the shock, local officials were reported as saying.

The M8.8 megaquake and ensuing giant tsunami waves caused more damage in Chile’s Maule region and  beyond than did the Haiti quake in that  country, making a mockery of the death toll figure provided by the dysfunctional Haiti govt. Fire-Earth estimates that the Haiti quake death toll may have been exaggerated by as much as 100 folds.  Fire-Earth has now revised down its figure for the number of deaths and injures resulting from the Haiti quake to 5,000 (FIVE THOUSAND). [Original caption: An earthquake survivor walks through the city center after it was destroyed by a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami, in Talcahuano March 4, 2010.] Credit: REUTERS/Mariana Bazo. Image may be subject to copyright.

Yet Another Revised Death Toll by Chilean Govt

Major Chilean newspapers reported on Friday the government had again revised its death toll for Maule region to 316 (previously 587). The epicenter of the M8.8 megaquake was located in the Maule region.

The Tsunami Oops!

Most of the casualties in Saturday’s disasters were killed  NOT by the M8.8 megaquake, but by the three giant tsunami waves that obliterated the coastal population centers hours  later. The Chileans say their govt told them there would be NO risk of a tsunami.

The Chilean Navy has since blamed the catastrophic failure on “a diagnosis error,” admitting that they transmitted “extremely unclear information” to their civilian counterparts. The authorities have since fired head of the Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service [Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada, SHOA,] Commander Mariano Rojas, for failing to issue a tsunami warning [syn: incompetence,] local reports said.

EQ Details

• Magnitude as reported by USGS/EHP: 6.6 [Max magnitude estimated by Fire-Earth: 6.9 Mw]
• Date-Time:
  • Friday, March 05, 2010 at 11:47:10 UTC
  • Friday, March 05, 2010 at 08:47:10 AM at epicenter

• Location: 36.513°S, 73.116°W
• Depth: 35 km (21.7 miles) set by location program
• Region:  OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

• Distances
  • 35 km (20 miles) N of Concepcion, Chile
  • 90 km (55 miles) W of Chillan, Chile
  • 125 km (80 miles) NNW of Los Angeles, Chile
  • 405 km (255 miles) SSW of SANTIAGO, Chile

• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• USGS Event ID: us2010tla4

Strong Quake Strikes SW of Sumatra, Indonesia

Meanwhile, a strong earthquake measuring up to 6.8Mw [Fire-Earth estimate] struck SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA, at a depth of about 20km on Friday, March 05, 2010 at 16:06:57 UTC.

The epicenter was located at 4.032°S, 100.806°E, USGS/EHP reported.

Distances:

• 165 km (100 miles) W of Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia
• 345 km (215 miles) S of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia
• 415 km (255 miles) SW of Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia
• 700 km (435 miles) WNW of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia

Related Links:

• Chile Earthquake Links Page
• FEWW Earthquake Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links

• For more photos click  Reuters Photo Gallery