Magnitude 8.8 quake triggers widespread devastation, tsunami alerts across Pacific

A massive magnitude-8.8 earthquake ripped Chile early Saturday, killing 214 people, according to Chilean emergency services, and triggering tsunami alerts across the Pacific basin.

The quake struck off the nation’s coast, some 115 kilometres (70 miles) northeast of Concepcion, the country’s second-largest city, causing widespread damage as far away as the capital of Santiago, situated more than 300 kilometres north of the epicenter.

In a televised address to the nation, Chile’s outgoing president, Michelle Bachelet said it was an earthquake “of great strength," the full extent of which "cannot be fully quantified." She estimated that about two million people were affected by the quake.

The earthquake triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific basin and many island nations are bracing for waves of devastation after swells crashed into Chile’s coastal town of Talcahuano and across Polynesia following the quake.

Tsunamis in the French Polynesian Marquesas islands measured as much as four metres high, damaging some boats and areas along the coastline. There were no reports of injuries, officials said.

Nearly 15 hours after the quake struck Chile, the tsunami reached Hawaii's Big Island, where residents were evacuated to higher ground.

The tsunami warning was later lifted for Hawaii and all the states around the Pacific Rim except Japan and Russia.

Japan issued a major tsunami alert for its Pacific coastline early Sunday as the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that waves of up to three metres could hit the northern coastal areas of Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has ordered his administration to prepare for emergency aid, Jiji Press reported.
   
“I told the ministries concerned to be ready to take measures in case relief assistance is needed," Hatoyama told journalists.

Russia issued a similar warning and launched an evacuation in its Pacific peninsula of Kamchatka. Residents on coastal areas of Russia’s Kuril islands were evacuated early Sunday as the Sakhalin Tsunami Centre warned that two meter waves could lash the islands.

EU pledges three million euros in aid to Chile

EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said Saturday that the European Union would send three million euros in aid to Chile. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and US officials said they were monitoring developments and stood ready to offer aid to victims.

Paul Earle, USGS Geophysicist. By phone from Golden, Colorado (27/02/10)

In a televised address on Saturday, US President Barack Obama said the United States "stands ready to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts, and we have resources that are positioned to deploy should the Chilean government ask for our help".
 
The epicentre of the quake was just off the Chilean coast, 115 kilometres (70 miles) northeast of Concepcion and 325 kilometers southwest of Santiago.
   
The significant depth of the quake, at some 35 kilometres underground, might have helped limit the damage above. Deep quakes are weaker at the earth's surface, but tend to spread their effects over a larger area.
   
Chile is no stranger to seismic disruptions, having recorded the strongest earthquake ever, measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale, in May 1960. The tsunami that resulted from the Valdivia, or Great Chilean, quake affected parts of Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, California, New Zealand and southeast Australia.

Chile's earthquake in pictures Chile was hit by a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake early on Saturday morning local time. The epicentre was 115 kilometres from Concepcion, the country's second-largest city, which was ablaze all night long. (Photo credit: TV Chile) The quake hit at 3:34 am local time (7:34 pm GMT). The capital city, Santiago, was plunged into darkness and telecommunications systems went down. (Photo credit tweetpic: @josegremeza) The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced tsunami alerts for Chile and Peru, and called for vigilance in Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and the Antarctic. (Photo credit tweetpic: @emitouuu) The country's infrastructure sustained major damage and Santiago's airport was closed down. (Photo credit: TV Chile) "We continue to assess the situation," Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yomato said, in discussing the extent of damage to homes and infrastructure. (Credit: AFP) More than 100 deaths have been confirmed by authorities so far. Chile was also the site of the strongest earthquake ever recorded, a 9.5-magnitude quake in May 1960. (Photo credit tweetpic: @pamelapalmaz)