The Megathrust in Chile is followed by a “Mega-Aftershock”
On Tuesday, around 7:46 PM PDT, citizens of Iquique, Chile were given a nasty jolt as an earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter Scale took place. This quake took place due to a megathrust between the Nazca and the South American plates. The epicenter of this horror was at the depth of 6 miles beneath the surface of the Earth. The aftershocks that followed seem to grow in terms of ferocity and vehemence. The latest one took place on Wednesday at a distance of 23 km from the southern coast of Iquique, Chile. It took place at 7:43 PM, PDT and measured 7.6 on the Richer Scale.
A Tsunami alert was issued for the countries of Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. Citizens of the countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras had a troubled frown while anticipating the next “announcement” on their NOAA weather radios during the issue of Tsunami watches.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, the alert was cancelled around 8:59 PM PDT. The alert was issued since different centers along with NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre reported rise in irregular wave levels in different places. A compiled list has been given below.
- Pisagua, Chile: Tsunami heights of 7.6 feet were reported
- Hilo, Hawaii: A Tsunami wave measuring 1.9 feet was reported
- Kahului, Maui: A wave measuring 1.7 feet was reported
- Pago Pago, American Samoa: A wave measuring 1 foot was reported
- Port San Luis, California: A smaller wave measuring 0.6 feet was reported
The levels may seem normal however one needs to consider that these levels were reported by buoys floating in the ocean and not at the sea shore. A Tsunami tends to increase in height as it approaches the sea shore.
Landslides, blocked roads, and power outages took place as a result of the quake.
The megathrust saw a national emergency getting issued by Michelle Bachelet, the President of Chile. According to weather centers, the weather will have it share of quake-induced side-effects for some days to come.
Chileans have faced such horrors in the past as well with a major 8.8 magnitude quake in February, 2010. This quake took place at a distance of 200 miles from Santiago. The year 1960 saw the worst-ever quake measuring 9.5 and leaving 20,000 people homeless and a death toll between 2230—6000.
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