Authorities had to evacuate 1 million people

Sep 17, 2015 16:08 GMT  ·  By

This Wednesday, at 22:54 UTC, a powerful earthquake struck just off the coast of Chile. The 8.3-magnitude shake hit at a depth of about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles), giving rise to mammoth waves that flooded coastal communities and cities in the affected region. 

The areas close to where the quake hit experienced waves up to 5 meters (16.5 feet) high. Further north or south, there were waves 1 meter (3.2 feet) tall.

The city of Illapel, the closest to the earthquake's epicenter, was hit the hardest. Soon after the shake, which lasted for about 3 minutes and was followed by several dozen aftershocks, a tsunami warning was issued for the entire Chilean coast.

Hours later, the warning was lifted. Authorities had to evacuate about 1 million people whose homes were flooded by the massive waves birthed by the earthquake. Nearly 10 people were killed and about 20 were injured when the quake struck.

There are reports of damage to infrastructure, but since communication networks are down in most of the country, detailed information is not yet available.

“Once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature,” Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said in speech on national television just hours ago, as cited by The Guardian.

The military was sent to the affected areas to help people and prevent looting. The people who were evacuated are asked not to return to their homes until it is safe to do so.

The earthquake was not exactly a surprise to geologists

The 8.3-magnitude earthquake that hit Chile this Wednesday, September 16, happened on the interface between the Nazca plate, an oceanic tectonic plate in the South Pacific, and the South America plate.

Researchers with the US Geological Survey say the earthquake's epicenter was just 85 kilometers (53 miles) west of where the Nazca plate, moving east-northeast, begins its subduction under the plate carrying South America.

This region is especially prone to earthquakes. In fact, it was here that Chile's largest earthquake on record, a 9.5-magnitude shake that hit in 1960, occurred. Then, in 2010, the same subduction zone was witness to a 8.8-magnitude earthquake.

“Over the century prior to the September 16, 2015 earthquake, the region within 400 km of this event has hosted 15 other M 7+ earthquakes,” US Geological Survey specialists say.

Major earthquake hits Chile (3 Images)

A major earthquake hit Chile this Wednesday, September 16
The earthquake's epicenterThe earthquake struck in a subduction zone
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