Massive earthquake hits Chile
27 February 2010
A massive earthquake of 8.8 magnitude struck off the coast of Chile this morning, triggering a tsunami.
The epicentre was around 70 miles from Concepcion, Chile's second largest city.
Early reports say that buildings have been destroyed and at least 47 people are dead.
Dr Brian Baptie, British Geological Survey's Head of Seismology said 'This is largest earthquake to strike central Chile since a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in 2001. The epicentre lies around 200 km northeast of the magnitude 9.5 earthquake that struck Chile in 1960. This was the largest earthquake ever recorded and resulted in a destructive tsunami that killed many thousands of people around the Pacific.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has expanded today's tsunami warning to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Antarctica, Panama and Costa Rica.
Dr Baptie said, 'A 1.3 m tsunami wave was observed at Valparaiso, 200km north of the epicentre about 20 minutes after the earthquake. Tsunami waves in the deep ocean travel about the same speed as a jet plane and would take about 15 hours to reach Hawaii and about 20 hours to reach the other side of the Pacific.'
More information:
Dr Aoife O'Mongain
British Geological Survey
Mobile: +44 (0) 798 911 5657
Further information
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