When a country is hit with an 8.2 earthquake and several aftershocks (including a 7.8)...

[tofuandbeer]

and suffers 4 fatalities: that is quite a feat.
I live in L.A. California, and I hope we're as prepared.
I am, of course, sorry for those who lost their lives, but that is awesome work on preparedness, Chile!

[jberryhill]

1. It is remarkable

When engineers live where they work, good things happen.

[tofuandbeer]

2. +1

I didn't think of that. Great point!

[joshcryer]

3. A better statement could not be said.

Chile criminalizes anyone who doesn't build to very strict code if I recall correctly. They take it very seriously there.

[tofuandbeer]

7. Thanks. Did not know that!

[Warpy]

4. Chile has had extremely strict building standards for decades

Remember they had the largest quake ever recorded and it was only a few decades ago.

Pinochet tried to overturn those standards but it was the one thing the old vulture wanted that he never got.

They also have frequent civil preparedness drills, so people know what to do and don't tend to panic.

[tofuandbeer]

8. Yes. I saw that in the footage. They had worried looks on their faces, but they made their way.

Amazing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. There are a few things that help

And we could take lessons.

1.- this really helps, these were deep quakes and the epicenters were not under a city. A shallow quake there would be more damage. A shallow quake with the epicenter under a major population center, ditto.

2.- Chile has extremely strict building codes

3.- Civil defense works.

4.- They are on an extremely seismic area, so any emergency, (like 2010) they do a lessons learned review and apply it.

In this case number one really matters. The quake in La Habra was less than two miles underground, closer to one for comparison. These suckers have been anywhere from 17 to 22 miles, which lets some of the energy dissipate before it reaches the surface. It is always amazing to study these things, even if as a hobby.

[tofuandbeer]

10. Wow! I didn't even compare the depths. That's quite a difference. Thanks for the info!

[Cha]

6. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.. tofuandbeer!

[tofuandbeer]

9. :) thanks!