The National Seismological Center (CSN) reported this a magnitude 4.5 earthquake with Epicenter 28.0 kilometers from the town of Pica.
According to preliminary information, the quake began at 5:20 p.m. (local time) this Saturday, December 6th, and had a depth of 95.0 kilometers.
The coordinates of the epicenter were recorded at -69,063 degrees longitude and -20,518 degrees latitude, according to CNS data.
Remember that in the event of a tremor, information only follows official sourcesAvoid falling for rumors or fake news.
After an earthquake, check your home for possible damage, only use your cell phone in an emergency, do not overload telephone lines, and do not light matches or candles until you are sure there is no gas leak. It is important to note that aftershocks can occur after a major earthquake. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant.
An earthquake can occur at any time, so it is important to be prepared with the following measures: create a disaster preparedness plan, organize evacuation drills, find safety zones at home, school or work, and prepare an emergency backpack.
During an earthquake, remain calm and find a safe place, stay away from falling objects, do not use elevators, and do not stay in stairwells or doorways.
If you are driving, park and stay away from buildings, trees and poles. If you are on the coast, leave the beach and seek refuge in higher ground as there is a risk of a tsunami. And if you are in a wheelchair and cannot move to a safe place, brake the wheels and protect your head and neck with your arms.
Since 1570 About a hundred earthquakes of great magnitude occurred in Chile, almost thirty of which had a magnitude greater than 8.
According to the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Risk Management, on average an earthquake of magnitude over 8 occurs every 10 years. These are some of the most significant earthquakes in Chile’s history.
The strongest earthquake in history
On the afternoon of May 22, 1960, the largest earthquake of all time occurred with a magnitude of 9.5. The epicenter was in the town of Traiguén in Malleco province. However, it is known as “Valdivia earthquake” because that was where the greatest damage occurred.
The seismic activity also caused a tsunami with waves up to 10 meters high that devastated large parts of the south of the country. The tsunami was felt far beyond Chile and also reached Asia. In Japan, for example, it was hit by six-meter-high waves that left several dead and significant damage.
The official death toll is not exact, it is only known that there were more than 2,000 victims.
The last big earthquake
The last major earthquake to hit Chile was the one known as “27F”. On February 27, 2010, the second strongest earthquake in its history occurred.
With a magnitude of 8.8, the seismic activity had its epicenter on the coasts of the Maule region and surprised the population in the early hours of the morning.
As in 1960, less than an hour after the earthquake, a tsunami hit the country, mainly in the Maule and Biobío regions. Outside Chile, the tsunami reached Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Costa Rica without major damage.
The earthquake left more than 500 people dead and around fifty missing.
The deadliest earthquake
It happened on the night of January 24, 1939 the deadliest earthquake in Chile’s history. An 8.3 magnitude earthquake was felt from Valparaíso to Temuco, but the greatest damage was concentrated in Concepción and Chillán.
This seismic activity was called the Chillán earthquake because it was precisely there that it left the greatest destruction more than half of its buildings collapsed.
As a result of the earthquake, electricity, telephone and telegraph services were disrupted, there was no transportation, the train station remained underground, and the disaster resulted in shortages of food and water.
The Chillán earthquake of 1939 is the tragedy that claimed the most lives in Chile. The official death toll was 24,000, but some estimate it was near 30,000, although only 5,685 have been identified.
Other earthquakes
In addition to the earthquakes mentioned, there were other significant earthquakes in Chile’s history.
For example, two other telluric motions with magnitudes greater than 8.5 have been recorded, but these occurred more than 100 years ago, according to CSN records – not counting the tremors mentioned above.
In the early morning of July 8, 1730, an 8.7 magnitude earthquake occurred in Valparaíso, killing approximately 3,000 people. On the night of September 16, 1615, another earthquake of magnitude 8.8 was recorded in Arica, which surprisingly did not cause any fatalities.
On the other hand, there are two other earthquakes that claimed more than two thousand lives: on the night of May 9, 1877, an earthquake of magnitude 8.5 was recorded in Iquique; and that of the morning of February 8, 1570, which had a magnitude of 8.3.