Strong Chile aftershock (5.9) spurs panic, evacuations

[VanW]

Source: USGS,CNN, Reuters

03 Mar 2010 18:33:56 GMT

SANTIAGO, March 3 (Reuters) - A strong 5.9-magnitude aftershock offshore of the Chilean coast on Wednesday sparked panic in the southern-central town of Concepcion, devastated by a massive earthquake over the weekend.

Emergency officials said there was no risk of a tsunami hitting the area but scared residents fled to higher ground, according to Reuters witnesses.

The devastating quake on Saturday killed more than 800 people, but the death toll could rise in coming days, said President Michelle Bachelet. (Reporting by Mica Rosenberg in Santiago and Mario Naranjo in Concepcion)

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03253073.htm

---

Note: USGS was reporting 2 different quakes within seconds of each other-- a 6.0 and a 5.9, in slightly different areas. EDIT: now they have removed the 6.0 one.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_big.php

Getting contradicting info from first-hand reports on Twitter-- some saying that ONEMI (the Chilean emergency service) is cancelling the Tsunami Alert. Of course, Chilean officials are getting a lot of criticism right now because the Navy cancelled the Tsunami Warning immediately after the 8.8 quake, even sending evacuees back to their homes to die in the tsunami that happened.


CNN: Tsunami Alert has now been lifted.

Magnitude
6.0 (Preliminary magnitude — update expected within 15 minutes)
Date-Time
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 17:44:34 UTC
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 02:44:34 PM at epicenter
Location
35.750°S, 72.530°W
Depth
33 km (20.5 miles) set by location program
Region
MAULE, CHILE
Distances
84 km (52 miles) WSW (248°) from Talca, Chile
129 km (80 miles) NNE (21°) from Concepcion, Chile
303 km (188 miles) SW (214°) from SANTIAGO, Chile

[louis-t]

1. Jeez, what will the right say God is punishing THEM for?

:eyes:

[heliarc]

2. Electing a Right wing President.

Oh... wait... that doesn't sound right somehow... :eyes:

[rabs]

3. Tsunami warning has been cancelled

Was just on the phone with family member in Santiago. Chilean TV just announced that the tsunami warning had been lifted.

Nerves are really jangled because of the aftershocks (some would be earthquakes on their own but not after an 8.8 MEGA quake.)

[VanW]

4. Thanks, rabs

Glad to hear your family members are OK.

[rabs]

7. Thanks

All are okay but have one BIL sleeping in his car with wife and 12-year-old daughter since last Saturday. They cook outside on a grill.

Watching Chilean TV online and the aftershock was 5.9. The alert that went out lasted 43 minutes before it was lifted, which was enough time to create panic in the Concepcion, Constitution and Talcahuano regions.

Thankfully there appears to be no new victims.

[VanW]

8. That region is really suffering

Talcahuano was hit hard.

Do you have a link for that Chilean TV online?

[rabs]

10. Chilean TV online

Here you go, up to the minute reporting without the distortion of CNN and others.


http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tv-de-chile

:hi:

[VanW]

11. Thanks! n/t

[Judi Lynn]

19. The arrangement your B.I.L. & family made sounds like a terrific response made

to bizarre, dangerous, unpredictable conditions. No buildings to topple over on them while they're sleeping.

Have never heard of a continuing threat like this one. It's great they avoided harm so far. Hope the worst is behind them all.

[maddezmom]

6. thanks for the post

I feel so sorry for these people, must be scarier than hell.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Unbelievable duration of this non-stop nightmare. Do people suspect any activity

from any of the volcanos?

It's so good you were finally able to reach the relatives, Santiago, and elsewhere.

[VanW]

5. AP--US seeks American citizens in Chile quake zone

CONCEPCION, Chile – The U.S. Embassy in Chile says it is working to locate between 700 and 1,200 American citizens believed to be in that country's earthquake zone.

Embassy press attache Paul Watzlavick says the embassy activated its phone warden network, which is based on a registry of U.S. citizens in Chile. Thirty Americans have been located so far in the quake area, and there is no word of deaths of injuries.

Watzlavick said Wednesday the embassy has a team on the ground and is working closely with Chilean authorities.

___
People wishing to contact family either in the U.S. or Chile can call:
U.S. Embassy: (56-2) 330-3000
State Department: 1-888-407-4747
or visit
http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ci/earthquake/index.htm
Citizens also can contact the Chile Task Force by e-mail at ChileEarthquake -at- state.gov

[SharonAnn]

15. Well, I'm here in Santiago and no one's looking for me. And yes, it was "rockin' and rollin'"

Since I had no experience with earthquakes, I didn't know what was happening. And, since I'd taken a couple of Benadryl to get to sleep, I was kind of loopy. When it was over (no damage in our house), I went back to bed. My sister-in-law and her daughter were awake all night, afraid of another one.

I'm not braver, just less experienced. So, after the first big earthquake shot, I slept "the sleep of the ignorant."

I still don't know when I'll be able to leave, but I'm not in a rush. I had planned to stay for a while, anyway.

[Judi Lynn]

20. Well, we'll be looking to hear you've made it back o.k. Didn't know you were there!

You are lucky to have been been visiting relatives living in a place which escaped destruction. Hope you'll continue to be safe.

You'll probably remember this trip for a very long time!

(Have heard Chile is an amazingly beautiful country, by the way.)

[VanW]

22. Hope you can update us when you are able

Best wishes from the USA.

[VanW]

9. CNN Video: Chilean authorities warn of possible tsunami (now canceled)

Dichato, Chile (CNN) -- Authorities in Chile warned of a possible tsunami and evacuated residents in some coastal cities Wednesday after a strong aftershock caused concerns that large waves could hit shore within an hour.

Officials in the fishing village of Dichato and in Concepcion told residents they had one hour to leave low-lying areas.

There were conflicting reports whether an actual warning existed. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on its Web site that no warning, watch or advisory is in effect as a result of the aftershock, which had a preliminary magnitude of 6.0, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Aid and increased security have started flowing into hard-hit areas of Chile, but some desperate residents complained Wednesday that they still haven't received any food or water since Saturday's massive earthquake.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/03/chile.earthquake/

[VanW]

12. Yet ANOTHER aftershock: 5.3

Just happened 15 minutes ago. Was estimated a 5.8 at first. Was felt strongly in Santiago.


Magnitude
5.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 19:58:27 UTC
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 04:58:27 PM at epicenter
Location
33.478°S, 71.888°W
Depth
20.4 km (12.7 miles) (poorly constrained)
Region
OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
Distances
49 km (30 miles) SSW (205°) from Valparaiso, Chile
113 km (70 miles) W (271°) from SANTIAGO, Chile
222 km (138 miles) N (355°) from Talca, Chile
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 24.2 km (15.0 miles); depth +/- 57.7 km (35.9 miles)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010tjbv.html


Now downgraded to 5.3.

[VanW]

13. 6.1 aftershock a few minutes ago

Magnitude
6.1 (Preliminary magnitude — update expected within 15 minutes)
Date-Time
Thursday, March 04, 2010 at 01:59:49 UTC
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 10:59:49 PM at epicenter
Location
33.227°S, 72.047°W
Depth
27 km (16.8 miles) set by location program
Region
OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
Distances
39 km (24 miles) WSW (246°) from Valparaiso, Chile
132 km (82 miles) WNW (283°) from SANTIAGO, Chile
252 km (156 miles) N (352°) from Talca, Chile

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/at00766798.php

[rabs]

14. Very close to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar

TV online now showing earlier panic about a tsunami ... dramatic stuff.

[rabs]

16. Antofagasta, Chile; 6.4 earthquake

at 19:39 Chilean time (2:39 Pacific time in U.S.) No injuries/damage reports just yet.
Chilean emergency service says it is a separate quake, not an aftershock.

Antofagasta is in the north of Chile, far from the central zone that was hit by the 8.8 megaquake early Saturday.

Spanish: http://www.lanacion.cl/temblor-en-antofagasta-6-4-grados/noticias/2010-03-04/195436.html

[VanW]

17. Many aftershocks today (Friday)

MAP 5.0 2010/03/05 12:28:59 -34.974 -72.169 35.0 MAULE, CHILE
MAP 5.3 2010/03/05 12:01:53 -37.478 -73.360 35.0 BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP 6.6 2010/03/05 11:47:10 -36.513 -73.116 35.0 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP 5.1 2010/03/05 10:31:24 -37.477 -73.699 35.0 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP 6.0 2010/03/05 09:19:38 -36.535 -73.253 35.0 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP 5.2 2010/03/05 03:55:19 -34.482 -71.443 35.0 LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP 5.7 2010/03/05 03:34:33 -34.405 -71.696 23.0 LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE


Best wishes to those in Chile.

[Judi Lynn]

21. Chile aftershocks could go on for years: scientists

Chile aftershocks could go on for years: scientists
Fri Mar 5, 12:38 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Chileans will be feeling aftershocks following last week's 8.8-magnitude earthquake for months and possibly years, scientists said Friday, as three strong tremors rocked the country.

"The larger the earthquake, the larger the aftershocks, the more of them and the longer they're going to last," said John Bellini, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey (USGS) in Colorado.

"They will wind down in number, but they will probably be noticeable to people for months and could go on possibly for years," he told AFP.

Chile has been rattled by more than 200 aftershocks since the historic monster quake struck the South American country six days ago, killing some 800 people as buildings collapsed and tsunamis swept people to sea.

Several have topped 6.0 on the Richter scale, including Friday's three tremors, which were powerful enough to cause already damaged buildings to collapse.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100305/sc_afp/chilequakeaftershockscience