Massive Earthquake of 8.8 magnitude strikes Chile

From Sources: Eugene Moodubelle

Santiago, 27 February 2010: A massive earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale struck Chile on early Saturday morning, 27th February 2010 at around 3.34 am. The quake hit 325 kilometres southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile and centred at the coast of Maule. The massive earthquake destroyed buildings leaving much of the central part of the country without power. At least 78 people have been reported killed by the earthquake. However, the death toll is expected to rise. President Michelle Bache let said there were 78 confirmed deaths and that more were possible. The President further urged people to stay calm. "With a quake of this size we undoubtedly can’t rule out more deaths and probably injuries," she said.

The United States of America has issued tsunami warning for Chile and its immediate neighbours. Japan has warned that a tsunami might hit the entire Pacific basin. "Never in my life have I experienced a quake like this, it’s like the end of the world," one man told local television from the city of Temuco, where the quake damaged homes and forced staff to evacuate the regional hospital.

Local television stations said there was damage to buildings in the historic centre of Santiago, which lies about 200 miles north of the epicentre, and a highway bridge collapsed near the capital. In the moments after the quake, people streamed onto the streets of the capital, hugging each other and crying.

There were blackouts in parts of Santiago and communications were still down in the area closest to the epicenter. Telephone and power lines were down, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage close to the epicenter.

Chile sits on the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean’s "rim of fire" and astride a massive fault line. In May, 1960, the largest earthquake recorded in the 20th century hit off the coast of central Chile. The quake, which had a magnitude of 9.5, killed 1,655 people and left 2 million homeless. It also triggered a tsunami that reached Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines, killing dozens in each place and destroying buildings and infrastructure.