Death Toll reaches 309 and Rising
8.8 Megaquake destroys houses, buildings, hospitals, bridges, roads and other structures
The Chile M8.8 quake released about 180 times more energy than the recent Haiti quake (estimated at 7.3Mw). Up to 70 medium to powerful aftershocks measuring M5.0 to M7.0 have been reported by USGS and other EQ monitoring centers
Chilean government has declared 6 regions as “zones of catastrophe,” but has made no formal request for international aid as yet.
Power and telephone lines are down throughout most of Chile making the flow of information extremely difficult [Other countries are advised to revise their communication systems]
- Water lines are cut off in most parts of the country.
- Many deaths are reported in Maule near the epicenter, as well as in the regions of Araucania, Biobio, O’Higgins, Santiago and Valparaiso, some of the places where powerful aftershocks occurred.
- In Santiago, capital of Chile, at least a dozen large building have collapse killing more than 15 people (the death toll could rise).
- About 200 people were caught inside an apartment block which collapsed in the major city of Concepcion, the closest to the epicenter, and officials said they had no idea if anyone escaped, according to news reports.
- A chemical plant near Santiago has caught fire forcing the authorities to evacuate several thousand people from the neighborhood.
- Santiago International airport has been damaged and will be closed for at least a week.
Freeze frame from a local TV report shows a building in Concepcion that caught fire as a result of the earthquake.
The international airport in Santiago, the Chilean capital, located about 320km (200 miles) north of the epicenter, was closed as the megaquake caused damage to some roads and building facades.
A strong M6.3 aftershock in Salta, Argentina killed at least 2 people last night, officials said.
Rescue workers search for victims and survivors after an apartment complex collapsed during an earthquake in Concepcion some 100 km (62 miles) south of the epicenter, February 27, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Jose Luis Saavedra. Image may be subject to copyright. For more image images, click links in the Related Images section below.
The megaquake was the fifth-largest seismic event since 1900. Chile was also the scene of the largest earthquake in the world which measured 9.5Mw, which killed 1,655 people and injure 3,000 others, leaving about 2,000,000 homeless.
The tsunami generated by the 1960 quake caused 61 deaths and $75 million damage in Hawaii [most of the damage occurred at Hilo, with the runup height reaching 10.6 m.] Several hundred other people in Japan and the Philippines were also killed or reported missing as a result of the destructive tsunami.
Collapsed highway Near Santiago. Vehicles driving along a highway that collapsed during the megaquake were thrown on the road below on Saturday. Photo Credit: Associated Press. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notie.
Tsunami
Japan is bracing for a possible tsunami wave of 3m (10ft) or higher that could strike the Pacific coast of Hokkaido at about 13:00JST (04:00 UTC).
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)Tsunami Forecast Map. Image may be subject to copyright.
- Major Tsunami is marked in RED: Tsunami height is expected to be 3 meters or higher.
- Tsunami is marked in YELLOW: Tsunami height is expected to be up to 2 meters.
- Tsunami Advisory: Tsunami height is expected to be about 0.5 meters.
Japanese government has ordered thousands of residents on coastal areas to evacuate to higher grounds.
A tsunami generated by the megaquake overwhelmed the port of Talcahuano, a major port in southern Chile, causing substantial damage to the harbor and the boats, and flooding streets.
A huge wave swept the Juan Fernandez islands, President Michelle Bachelet was reported as saying. The wave reportedly 7, with at least a dozen more islanders reported missing, according to a local officials.
Hawaii recorded tsunami surges of up to 12 inches about half an hour later than oceanographers had forecast, according to an official with the Hawaii County Civil Defense. Some officials had predicted that the waves would be as high as 4.8m (14 feet) despite the freely available tsunami ADVISORY reports.
In French Polynesia, a 1.8m (6 ft ) high wave swept ashore. As of posting, there was no reports of casualties or damage. However, casualties and damage will most probably occur.
A 1.7m was observed at Valparaiso, west of Santiago, and reports of more damage are expected.
In Australia, a tsunami wave measuring 50cm (1.6 feet) was reported off Norfolk Island, about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles ) northeast of Sydney.
On Chatham Islands, NZ officials reported a 2-meter high wave striking the coast. About a thousand people in the coastal cities of Gisborne and Napier in the North Island were reportedly evacuated from low-lying areas.
In Tonga, there were reports of a 2.2-meter (6.6 feet) high wave sweeping an unnamed small northern island, an official said.
In the Philippines the officials said they were expecting a 1-meter high wave later this afternoon local time.
Socioeconomic Aftershocks
President Michelle Bachelet has said that two million Chileans have been affected by the Saturday’s Megaquake. Her estimate is realistic.
Thousands of people in Argentina may have also been affected.
10-degree Map Centered at 35°S,75°W (USGS)
Latest EQ Location map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW
Fire-Earth Moderators believe that the geophysical prognosis doesn’t bode well for Chile, and a number of other countries, especially those on the PRF, for at least the next 3 years.
On January 2, Fire-Earth forecast 2010 Likely the Most Disastrous Year on Record. See also 2010 Disaster Calender- Year One of Human-Enhanced Disasters.
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