Aftermath of devastating M8.3 Chile earthquake

Aftermath of devastating M8.3 Chile earthquake: 12 dead, 1 million evacuated, more aftershocks expected



Posted by Elena Ugrin on September 18, 2015 in categories Featured articles, Seismic activity, Tsunami





A powerful M8.3 earthquake hit near the coast of central Chile at 22:54 UTC on Wednesday, September 16 and produced a tsunami which affected the entire Pacific basin. Tsunami warnings have been issued along the coasts of Chile, State of California, Hawai'i Island, New Zealand, Japan and American Samoa. 1 million people have been evacuated along the Chilean coast, and 12 were reported dead, as of September 18, 2015.
This is the third most powerful earthquake that has stricken the South America over the last five years. A quake in February 2010 registered a magnitude of 8.8 while the most powerful earthquake ever recorded on the planet also occurred in Chile, near Lumaco, in May 1960, and registered a magnitude of 9.5.





The quake and its strong aftershocks have occurred as a result of thrust faulting on the interface between the Nazca and South America plates in central Chile, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was felt all the way to Buenos Aires, Argentina.


Thanks to: http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com