Central Chile hit by 8.3 magnitude earthquake

Earthquake of 8.3-magnitude on Richter scale has hit off Chile’s coast in Illapel, the capital of Choapa Province in central Coquimbo Region of Chile.
US Geological Survey has noted its epicenter at a depth of 12.5 kilometers off Chile’s coast in Illapel. After the initial earthquake, two aftershock quakes of magnitudes 6.2 and 6.4 occurred west of Illapel.

Tsunami Warning

  • The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) has issued tsunami warnings for Chile, P
    eru and Hawaii.
  • The PTWC also issued tsunami alert for waves of between 0.3 to 1 metres for Japan, Antarctica, and most of the South Pacific countries including New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Chile and Earthquakes

  • Chile is one of the world’s most earthquake prone countries as it lies on so called Pacific Ring of Fire.
  • It is located on the seismically active location that runs along the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates.
  • These plates are continuously grinding each other at a rate of up to 80mm per year.
  • The strongest earthquake recorded on Earth of magnitude 9.3 on Richter scale had hit Chile in 1960 which had killed more than 5000 people.Image Source: BCC

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