Source: Diegosaurius Rex
¶ For updated media reports on the Chile earthquake and it’s aftermath, see Newsography.
¶ On 22 May, 1960, the largest ever recorded earthquake (9.5) struck Chile between Conception and Valdivia. At 03:34 local time (06:34 GMT) today another extremely strong earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale also struck near Maule, Chile (near Conception). At the time of this writing, there are 122 deaths confirmed, as well as reports of extensive damage to some of the buildings/infrastructure.
¶ While this is a massive earthquake, much of the Chilean infrastructure has been built to withstand earthquakes. Therefore, the massive destruction seen with the recent Haiti earthquake is unlikely – that quake was 7.0 on the Richter scale, approximately a 500 times less powerful but causing an estimated 200,000 deaths. Regardless of the infrastructure hardening, however, there is likely to be large disruptions in services, as well as health- and welfare-related impacts…time will tell.
¶ There are many Tsunami warnings across the pacific and western coast of South and North America, reaching to Alaska. While it is traditionally hard to estimate the size and strength of resulting Tsunamis, there is great concern for the potential consequences of a large Tsunami striking places like Hawaii, Samoa, Japan, etc.
Source: USGS
¶ There are reports of people using Twitter to contact friends and loved ones, and to send updates to various news sources. However, much of the communications infrastructure near the epicenter appears to be disrupted. You can follow the Chilean Red Cross on Twitter (@CruzRojainforma). Google Translate can be used to translate the tweets here. Trendsmap can be accessed here.
¶ Apparently, people are already beginning to use Twitter again in an attempt to contact family members as well. The Ushahidi-Chile Media Monitoring Group has set up a Google Doc to collect media reports of the Chilean earthquake, which can be found here.
¶ Below is a map of the potential tsunami impact areas and magnitudes.
¶ On a related note, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has multiple faculty from Chile. I am due to travel to the Valdivia region next January for veterinary public health purposes; therefore, I have a special interest in the people of this region. I want to send out my hope that all of the families and friends of my colleagues are in good condition following this catastrophe.
