7.2 earthquake in Chile (95 miles SW of Santiago)

Source: USGS




95 miles SW of Santiago.

Read more: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/290_-35.php

something! We were in the City Hall of Vitacura (part of metro Santiago) when it happened. We looked at each other and everyone left the offices and went to the back patio garden or out front of the building. After a while, we returned, only to have to leave a second time. Returning again, we got the needed papers and left for the American Embassy.

When we got to the American Embassy, they were evacuating the building to the garden and service area in the back. They weren't sure whether to let us in, but because we had an appointment with the Consulate, they permitted entry. After we crossed through security and were in an interior patio that leads to the Consulate, they made us evacuate the premises, too.

Thought the embassy appears to have no structural damage at this time, there were a couple of water leaks that appeared, so water was shut off while they were fixed. The biggest concern was the new Titanium building (tallest building in Santiago) across the street. After this aftershock/earthquake, more than 50 windows appeared to be loosened in their frames and one side of the building appeared to be bent. Obviously some kind of a structural problem. The concern is that if the building toppled over, even just the top of it, it could hit the American Embassy which is a much, much lower building.

All in all, an interesting day but I would like ones that were more boring.

P.S. It's 4:10 PM here now.

Must be global warming or at least that's what the Freep Brains are saying.

Actually, I do wonder whats going on, Do these things go through patterns
and changes similar to climate ?

I don't think so, But I may be wrong.

The article states that there was a lot of shaking but doesn't mention damage or casualties.

There are usually these things called aftershocks- smaller earthquakes which follow large earthquakes. Maybe you've heard of them.

And it's nothing new either. The most powerful recorded quake in human history, the 9.5 Valdivia quake that shook the ground so hard that it caused volcanoes to blow their tops, changed the course of rivers, and dropped the coastline enough to turn dry farmland into sea level wetlands, happened in the same spot in 1960. Researchers stongly suspect that another massive quake recorded in the late 1500's was just as strong.

The only thing that has changed is the 24 hour global news cycle, and the advent of the Internet. 20 years ago, the Chile quake would have merited a brief mention on CNN and a couple of short news articles. Our press simply didn't spend a lot of time reporting on it. Today, with cameras everywhere and the Internet spreading video worldwide in seconds, every quake gets reported on in realtime.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/index.htm

Chile Navy issues tsunami alert after strong tremors
11 Mar 2010 15:17:07 GMT
Source: Reuters
SANTIAGO, March 11 (Reuters) - Chile's Navy on Thursday issued a tsunami warning after strong aftershocks shook the capital Santiago on Thursday, just as President-elect Sebastian Pinera was set to be ...

Chile Navy issues tsunami alert after strong tremors
ReutersMarch 11, 2010 7:34 AM SANTIAGO - Chile's Navy on Thursday issued a tsunami warning after strong aftershocks as strong as 7.2 magnitude, shook the capital Santiago on Thursday, just as President-elect Sebastian Pinera was set to be sworn in.

Chile was hit by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27 that killed hundreds.

The 7.2 magnitude aftershock was centered about 124 km west-southwest of Santiago and was measured at a depth of 10 km, USGS said.
http://www.vancouversun.com/Chile+Navy+issues+tsunami+alert+after+strong+tremors/2670618/story.html

thanks in advance

that there are no casualties. Their buildings are built to withstand earthquakes. Maybe they do well up to 7. but the 8.8 was pretty historical.

Hopefully everyone's okay!

The shallower they are the more confined and intense the enery release.

Have there been any tsunamis caused by today's quakes?

A 7.2, 6.9, and a 6.0 all withing about half an hour. The depth was 35-45 km. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

Another two aftershocks, 4.9 and 5.0.

Onemi emite alerta de tsunami entre la IV y X Región y pide evacuar con calma
A las 11.39 horas se produjo un sismo grado 7,2 en la escala de Richter con epicentro en la región de O'Higgins y tras él hubo otros dos de gran magnitud, uno a las 11:55 de 6,9 Richter y otro a las 12:06 de 6 grados). La Onemi ya comunicó oficialmente que existe alerta de tsunami en las zonas costeras entre las regiones de Coquimbo y Los Lagos, por lo que se emitió la instrucción de evacuar hacia sectores en altura. De acuerdo a la Onemi, el primer sismo tuvo las siguientes magnitudes en escala Mercalli: VII en Rancagua, VI en Santiago y Talca, V en Concepción y San Antonio, IV en Valparaíso.


-- Magnitudes on RICHTER 7.2 at 11:39,6.9 at 11:55 and 6 at 12:06

--Tunami alert from V to X regions (Chile is divided into regions) which covers from Coquimbo in the north to Puerto Montt in the south. Order to evacuate to higher ground in effect as write this.

-- Office of emergency magnitude in MERCALLI scale was VII in Rancagua, VI in Santiago and Talca, V in Concepcion and San Antonio, IV in Valparaiso.

-- Presidents attending the inauguration in Valparaiso were evacuated. Argentina's Cristina was seen with panic look.

-- Slight damage reported at La Moneda palace and other places in Santiago.

-- No reports yet of victims anywhere.





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