Earthquake in Chile 8.8 Magnitude Kills People, Damages Property

An 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Santiago, Chile in thte early morning hours of February 27, 2010; has caused at least 78 deaths and damaged property. Tsuami warnings have been issued for the entire Pacific Basin, including all coasts of Hawaii, extending as far away as Russia and Japan. A tsunami advisory has been issued for the coast of California as an after effect of the earthquake.

A state of catastrophe was declared in areas by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. The town of Chilian was one of the worst affected areas. Chilan was destroyed by a killer quake in 1939. It is too early to report the number of deaths or the extent of the property damage realted to the earthquake. The death count is currently at 78, but Bachelet has said that she expects the death toll to rise.

Chili is located on the southwestern coast of South America, on the Pacific Ocean coast. The earthquake's epicenter was located off the coast of Maule, about 200 miles southest of the Chilean capital city of Santiago. The quake struck at about 3.34 AM, when most people would have been inside their houses and sleeping.

Chile is still experiencing aftershocks, including a 6.1 magnitude aftershock, which is a huge earthquake in itself, according to CNN News. The CNN commentator stated that earthquakes themselves do not kill people, it is the buildings that kill people. Man made structures fall down during an earthquake, falling on people and causing injury and death.

The earthquake occurred n a heavily populated area and was felt by millions of peple The earth's rumbling was felt by millions of people in Chili. Parts of Argentina also felt the rumbling of the quake. Some buildings in Buenas Aires were evacuated.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific Basic, indlucing all coasts of Hawaii and places as far away as Russia and Japan. Calfornia and Alaska are under a tsunami advisory. People in coastal zones are being urged to move to higher ground

An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the National Weather Service said in a statement.
The full extent of the damage is not yet known. There have been reports of collapsed buildings and people out in the street. The ceiling of a parking lot in the fashionable Las Condes neighborhood of Santiago collapsed and crushed 50 cars.

Santiago, the capital city of Chile, has lost electricity, power and telephones. Some regional hospital buildings suffered damage and were evacuated. The Santiago Airport has been shut down and is expected to remain closed for at least 24 hours.

Santiago is a heavily populated metropolitan city with high rise architecture, dozens of shopping malls and an extensive suburban area. Santiago is home to the regional headquarters of many multiantional corporationa and is the regional financial center.

The 8.8 earthquake in Santiago was a stronger magnitude then the recent earthquake in Haiti. The buildings in Santiago were built to a higher code than in Haiti, so they may have a better chanace of withstanding the earthquake. It is too early to know the number of deaths or the extent of property damage related to the Chilean earthquake.

Written by Christine Nyholm
Huliq.com

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