2010 Pichilemu earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Pichilemu earthquake , also known as the Libertador O'Higgins earthquake, was a 6.9 MW
earthquake
that struck Chile
's O'Higgins Region
on 11 March 2010 at 11:39 local time (14:39 UTC
). The earthquake was centred 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of the city of Pichilemu
, according to the University of Chile Geological Service.
The earthquake was caused by increased regional stress arising from an earthquake on 27 February
, centered offshore Maule Region
, which was felt throughout central Chile. The 11 March earthquake was at first thought to be an aftershock from the 27 February event, but University of Chile Seismologist Jaime Campos identified it as an "independent earthquake". The Hawaii
-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
pointed out the possibility of local tsunamis within 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) of the epicenter
, although only small waves were seen in the Pichilemu area. One person was reported dead. At least 11 aftershocks immediately followed, causing panic throughout coastal towns between the Coquimbo
and Los Lagos
regions.
Pichilemu
is a Chilean city, capital of Cardenal Caro Province
, O'Higgins Region
. As of 2002, it had 12,392 inhabitants. The city hosts five National Monuments of Chile, including the Agustín Ross Park
, and the Agustín Ross Cultural Centre
, both of which were seriously damaged by the earthquake. Tourism is the main industry of the city. Several surf championships take place every year in Punta de Lobos
, which according to Fodor's
is "widely considered the best surfing in South America year-round."
s in central and southern Chile, following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake
in Maule Region
two weeks earlier. While news media reported the earthquake as an aftershock of the February earthquake in Chile
, a preliminary geological summary issued by the United States Geological Survey
(USGS) considered it to be an independent earthquake, a conclusion which seismologist Jaime Campos of the University of Chile also reached.
According to the United States Geological Service, the earthquake occurred in the region of the plate boundary between the Nazca
and South America plate
s, in the aftershock region of the 27 February earthquake, that occurred offshore Maule Region
. The Pichilemu earthquake was caused by the change in regional stress from the 27 February earthquake. Preliminary analyses by the USGS of their locations and seismic-wave radiation patterns suggest that the Pichilemu earthquake resulted from normal faulting within the subducting
Nazca plate or the overriding South America plate, unlike the 27 February earthquake, which occurred as thrust fault
ing on the interface between the two plates. The focal depths
of the Pichilemu earthquake are not known with sufficient precision to determine whether the Nazca or South American plate caused the earthquake.
From the pattern of aftershocks, it has been suggested that this earthquake originated from rupture along a previously unknown fault
(Pichilemu Fault) between Pichilemu and the Maule Region
commune of Vichuquén
, at 15 km depth, 40 km in length and 20 km wide. At first it was not known whether this fault was formed during the earthquake or if it was just reactivated, however geologist José Cembrano from the University of Chile affirmed that "[the fault] corresponds to a long life fault, in a million years time, whose activity had not been detected before."
The earthquake occurred 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of Pichilemu
, at a depth of 33.1 kilometres (20.6 mi) according to the University of Chile Seismological Service, while the United States Geological Service reported it occurred 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) west of Rancagua
, capital of O'Higgins Region
, at a depth of 11 kilometres (6.8 mi); Pichilemu News
reported the earthquake occurred 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) northeast of Pichilemu, between the villages of Panilonco and La Aguada
, and reached a moment magnitude of 7.2. As of 15 March 2010, more than 50 aftershocks had occurred in the area, the strongest of them measuring 6.7 in the moment magnitude scale, minutes after the initial quake.
, Sebastián Piñera
, was sworn in, at about 12:15 local time (15:15 UTC), at the Chilean congress in Valparaíso
, where the shaking was clearly felt. The presidents of Argentina
, Bolivia
, Colombia
, Ecuador
, and Paraguay
were also present, but television footage showed that the inauguration was not interrupted; however, it was reported the ceremony was "speeded," as Piñera cancelled the protocolary lunch with his visits and traveled to Rancagua
, one of the most affected cities by the quake.
A Pacific
-wide tsunami
warning was not issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
, although the organization pointed out the possibility of local tsunamis within 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) of the epicenter
, roughly between La Serena and Concepción
. The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy
(Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada, SHOA) issued a tsunami warning between Coquimbo and Los Lagos regions, as a way of "keeping people protected" against the possible occurrence of new tsunamis. President Sebastián Piñera urged coastal residents to move to higher ground in case of a tsunami. People in Pichilemu fled to the La Cruz Hill
for their security, where they received advice from members of the Army. The SHOA-emitted tsunami warning was lifted at around 15:50 local time (18:50 UTC).
President Piñera decreed "catastrophe state" in O'Higgins Region as a result of the quake, and appointed Army General Antonio Yackcich as Jefe de Plaza (Place Head) for the region, while he was visiting Rancagua that day.
, damaged severely the recently re-inaugurated Agustín Ross Cultural Centre
, and severely damaged the Espinillo
and Rodeillo
villages. The earthquake was also reported to have been felt in Mendoza
, Bariloche, Córdoba
, San Rafael, Buenos Aires
, Montevideo
and Asunción
. According to witnesses in the Pichilemu villages of Panilonco and La Aguada, the earthquake was accompannied by a "great noise."
According to a report by the National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry (Oficina Nacional de Emergencias del Ministerio del Interior, ONEMI) on 11 March 2010, small waves were seen in the area surrounding Pichilemu. The Santa Julia overpass located between Rancagua
and Graneros
collapsed, and there were partial power outages in Mostazal
, San Fernando
and Peumo
.
A United States Geological Survey
summary of the earthquake reported damage at Rancagua
, 177 kilometers southwest of Pichilemu. The mayor of Rancagua
, Eduardo Soto, reported severe damage to homes in the town. A small tsunami was also reported, with sea wave heights of 16 centimetres (0.525 ft) at Valparaíso
, and 29 centimetres (0.951 ft) at San Antonio
. Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter
reported strong waves in Pichilemu and Bucalemu, and damage to a highway in O'Higgins Region. One person died of a heart attack during the earthquake in Talca
, it was reported by La Tercera
.
Relief efforts stalled for about six hours because of the constant aftershocks. Seismologist Mario Pardo from the University of Chile Seismological Service said on 15 March 2010 that it was thought Pichilemu
was experiencing a seismic swarm
, due to concerns about the continued aftershocks in the area. After several power outages and tsunami alerts, many people in Pichilemu stayed at La Cruz Hill
and at Cordón, Cáhuil
.
earthquake
that struck O'Higgins
, Chile
, at 10:52 a.m. on 2 May 2010 at the epicenter
, at a depth of 32.9 kilometres (20 mi) and epicenter 12 kilometres (7 mi) northwest of Pichilemu
, according to the University of Chile Geological Service.
ONEMI
(National Emergencies Office) reported that the aftershock was felt most strongly in Talca
, 258 kilometres (160.3 mi) south of Santiago. ONEMI's Pablo Marín said there were no casualties and only some telephone lines had collapsed. Six aftershocks subsequently hit the area that day. The earthquake was measured as magnitude 5.9 by the United States Geological Survey
.
of 5.6 (originally reported as 5.9), and its epicenter was centered 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) southwest of Lolol
, O'Higgins Region
, 43 kilometres (26.7 mi) southwest of Santa Cruz
, and 170 kilometers southwest of Santiago
, at a depth of 50 kilometres (31.1 mi).
Telephone calls were truncated in O'Higgins Region
. No infrastructural damage or casualties was reported. The aftershock was felt throughout the Valparaíso
, Metropolitan
, O'Higgins, and Maule
regions. It was felt stronger in Rancagua
, San Vicente de Tagua Tagua
, Paredones
, Navidad
, Talca
, Curicó
, Iloca
, Molina
, and San Javier
, where it reached Mercalli
V intensity.
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
that struck Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
's O'Higgins Region
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
on 11 March 2010 at 11:39 local time (14:39 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
). The earthquake was centred 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of the city of Pichilemu
Pichilemu
Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo...
, according to the University of Chile Geological Service.
The earthquake was caused by increased regional stress arising from an earthquake on 27 February
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
, centered offshore Maule Region
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
, which was felt throughout central Chile. The 11 March earthquake was at first thought to be an aftershock from the 27 February event, but University of Chile Seismologist Jaime Campos identified it as an "independent earthquake". The Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is one of two tsunami warning centers that are operated by NOAA in the United States. Headquartered in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the PTWC is part of an international tsunami warning system program and serves as the operational center for TWS of the Pacific issuing...
pointed out the possibility of local tsunamis within 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) of the epicenter
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
, although only small waves were seen in the Pichilemu area. One person was reported dead. At least 11 aftershocks immediately followed, causing panic throughout coastal towns between the Coquimbo
Coquimbo Region
The IV Coquimbo Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is some 400 km north of the capital, Santiago.The capital and largest city is La Serena, other important cities include the seaport Coquimbo and the agricultural centre...
and Los Lagos
Los Lagos Region
Los Lagos Region is one of Chile's 15 regions, which are first order administrative divisions, and comprises four provinces: Chiloé, Llanquihue, Osorno and Palena. The region contains the country's second largest island, Chiloé, and the second largest lake, Llanquihue.Its capital is Puerto Montt;...
regions.
Pichilemu
Pichilemu
Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo...
is a Chilean city, capital of Cardenal Caro Province
Cardenal Caro Province
Cardenal Caro Province is one of the three provinces of the central Chilean region of O'Higgins . The capital of Cardenal Caro is Pichilemu....
, O'Higgins Region
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
. As of 2002, it had 12,392 inhabitants. The city hosts five National Monuments of Chile, including the Agustín Ross Park
Agustín Ross Park
Agustín Ross Park is a park located in the Agustín Ross Avenue, in front of the old Ross Casino, in Pichilemu. It is a National Monument of Chile.The original park contains 100-year-old native Chilean palms and many green spaces...
, and the Agustín Ross Cultural Centre
Agustín Ross Cultural Centre
The Agustín Ross Cultural Center , formerly known as the Ross Casino , is the cultural center of the city of Pichilemu in O'Higgins Region, Chile. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909 at the request of politician Agustín Ross Edwards...
, both of which were seriously damaged by the earthquake. Tourism is the main industry of the city. Several surf championships take place every year in Punta de Lobos
Punta de Lobos
Punta de Lobos is a Chilean beach located south of Pichilemu and southwest of Rancagua, in the Cardenal Caro Province, O'Higgins Region....
, which according to Fodor's
Fodor's
Fodor's is the world's largest publisher of English language travel and tourism information, and the first relatively professional producer of travel guidebooks...
is "widely considered the best surfing in South America year-round."
Geology
The 6.9 earthquake of 11 March 2010 was part of a series of earthquakes and aftershockAftershock
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock...
s in central and southern Chile, following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
in Maule Region
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
two weeks earlier. While news media reported the earthquake as an aftershock of the February earthquake in Chile
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
, a preliminary geological summary issued by the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) considered it to be an independent earthquake, a conclusion which seismologist Jaime Campos of the University of Chile also reached.
According to the United States Geological Service, the earthquake occurred in the region of the plate boundary between the Nazca
Nazca Plate
]The Nazca Plate, named after the Nazca region of southern Peru, is an oceanic tectonic plate in the eastern Pacific Ocean basin off the west coast of South America. The ongoing subduction along the Peru-Chile Trench of the Nazca Plate under the South American Plate is largely responsible for the...
and South America plate
South American Plate
The South American Plate is a continental tectonic plate which includes the continent of South America and also a sizeable region of the Atlantic Ocean seabed extending eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge....
s, in the aftershock region of the 27 February earthquake, that occurred offshore Maule Region
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
. The Pichilemu earthquake was caused by the change in regional stress from the 27 February earthquake. Preliminary analyses by the USGS of their locations and seismic-wave radiation patterns suggest that the Pichilemu earthquake resulted from normal faulting within the subducting
Subduction
In geology, subduction is the process that takes place at convergent boundaries by which one tectonic plate moves under another tectonic plate, sinking into the Earth's mantle, as the plates converge. These 3D regions of mantle downwellings are known as "Subduction Zones"...
Nazca plate or the overriding South America plate, unlike the 27 February earthquake, which occurred as thrust fault
Thrust fault
A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust across which there has been relative movement, in which rocks of lower stratigraphic position are pushed up and over higher strata. They are often recognized because they place older rocks above younger...
ing on the interface between the two plates. The focal depths
Isoseismal map
In seismology an isoseismal map is used to show lines of equal felt seismic intensity, generally measured on the Modified Mercalli scale. Such maps help to identify earthquake epicenters, particularly where no instrumental records exist, such as for historical earthquakes...
of the Pichilemu earthquake are not known with sufficient precision to determine whether the Nazca or South American plate caused the earthquake.
From the pattern of aftershocks, it has been suggested that this earthquake originated from rupture along a previously unknown fault
Pichilemu Fault
The Pichilemu Fault , also referred to as the Pichilemu-Vichuquén Fault , is a Chilean geological fault, located in O'Higgins Region, some kilometers away from Pichilemu, at a depth of . The fault is long and wide....
(Pichilemu Fault) between Pichilemu and the Maule Region
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
commune of Vichuquén
Vichuquén
Vichuquén is a commune in the Curicó Province of Chile's Maule Region.- History :The Spanish arrived along the Lico rivers in 1585, where settlements of the Mapuche and Inca already existed. In 1865, Vichuquén founded its capital of the village of the same name....
, at 15 km depth, 40 km in length and 20 km wide. At first it was not known whether this fault was formed during the earthquake or if it was just reactivated, however geologist José Cembrano from the University of Chile affirmed that "[the fault] corresponds to a long life fault, in a million years time, whose activity had not been detected before."
The earthquake occurred 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of Pichilemu
Pichilemu
Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo...
, at a depth of 33.1 kilometres (20.6 mi) according to the University of Chile Seismological Service, while the United States Geological Service reported it occurred 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) west of Rancagua
Rancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
, capital of O'Higgins Region
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
, at a depth of 11 kilometres (6.8 mi); Pichilemu News
Pichilemu News
Pichilemu News, or PichilemuNews.cl is a Chilean online newspaper based on Pichilemu. It was founded by Washington Saldías, former Councillor of Pichilemu, on January 14, 2000 as a sequel to Periódico Pichilemu .- History :Pichilemu News was founded on January 14, 2000 by Washington Saldías, former...
reported the earthquake occurred 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) northeast of Pichilemu, between the villages of Panilonco and La Aguada
La Aguada, Pichilemu
La Aguada is a Chilean village located north of Pichilemu, Cardenal Caro Province....
, and reached a moment magnitude of 7.2. As of 15 March 2010, more than 50 aftershocks had occurred in the area, the strongest of them measuring 6.7 in the moment magnitude scale, minutes after the initial quake.
Reaction
The earthquake took place minutes before the new President of ChilePresident of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
, Sebastián Piñera
Sebastián Piñera
Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique is a Chilean businessman and politician. He was elected President of Chile in January 2010, taking office in March 2010.- Education :...
, was sworn in, at about 12:15 local time (15:15 UTC), at the Chilean congress in Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, where the shaking was clearly felt. The presidents of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, and Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
were also present, but television footage showed that the inauguration was not interrupted; however, it was reported the ceremony was "speeded," as Piñera cancelled the protocolary lunch with his visits and traveled to Rancagua
Rancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
, one of the most affected cities by the quake.
A Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
-wide tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
warning was not issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is one of two tsunami warning centers that are operated by NOAA in the United States. Headquartered in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the PTWC is part of an international tsunami warning system program and serves as the operational center for TWS of the Pacific issuing...
, although the organization pointed out the possibility of local tsunamis within 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) of the epicenter
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
, roughly between La Serena and Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
. The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
(Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada, SHOA) issued a tsunami warning between Coquimbo and Los Lagos regions, as a way of "keeping people protected" against the possible occurrence of new tsunamis. President Sebastián Piñera urged coastal residents to move to higher ground in case of a tsunami. People in Pichilemu fled to the La Cruz Hill
La Cruz Hill
La Cruz Hill is a hill located in Pichilemu, Chile; the tallest point of the city. The hill is named after the cross located at its top.Mountain bike competitions take place regularly on the hill, which is also one of the main attractions of Pichilemu....
for their security, where they received advice from members of the Army. The SHOA-emitted tsunami warning was lifted at around 15:50 local time (18:50 UTC).
President Piñera decreed "catastrophe state" in O'Higgins Region as a result of the quake, and appointed Army General Antonio Yackcich as Jefe de Plaza (Place Head) for the region, while he was visiting Rancagua that day.
Damage and casualties
At Pichilemu, its epicenter, the earthquake destroyed the balaustrades surrounding Agustín Ross ParkAgustín Ross Park
Agustín Ross Park is a park located in the Agustín Ross Avenue, in front of the old Ross Casino, in Pichilemu. It is a National Monument of Chile.The original park contains 100-year-old native Chilean palms and many green spaces...
, damaged severely the recently re-inaugurated Agustín Ross Cultural Centre
Agustín Ross Cultural Centre
The Agustín Ross Cultural Center , formerly known as the Ross Casino , is the cultural center of the city of Pichilemu in O'Higgins Region, Chile. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909 at the request of politician Agustín Ross Edwards...
, and severely damaged the Espinillo
Espinillo, Chile
Espinillo is a Chilean village located in Pichilemu, Cardenal Caro Province. It was heavily damaged by the February 27 2010 and March 11 2010 earthquakes....
and Rodeillo
Rodeíllo
Rodeíllo is a village located 25 kilometers from Pichilemu, in central Chile.The village is known for having a water mill from the 1950s.-References:...
villages. The earthquake was also reported to have been felt in Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
, Bariloche, Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
, San Rafael, Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
and Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
. According to witnesses in the Pichilemu villages of Panilonco and La Aguada, the earthquake was accompannied by a "great noise."
According to a report by the National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry (Oficina Nacional de Emergencias del Ministerio del Interior, ONEMI) on 11 March 2010, small waves were seen in the area surrounding Pichilemu. The Santa Julia overpass located between Rancagua
Rancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
and Graneros
Graneros
Graneros is a Chilean commune and city in Cachapoal Province, O'Higgins Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Graneros spans an area of and has 25,961 inhabitants . Of these, 22,674 lived in urban areas and 3,287 in rural areas...
collapsed, and there were partial power outages in Mostazal
Mostazal
Mostazal is a Chilean commune in Cachapoal Province, O'Higgins Region. The capital of the commune is the city of San Francisco de Mostazal.-Geography:The commune spans an area of . The Plaza de San Francisco has an elevation of .-Demographics:...
, San Fernando
San Fernando, Chile
San Fernando is the capital of the province of Colchagua, in central Chile, and the second most populated urban center of the O'Higgins Region. Located close to the Tinguiririca River in a fertile valley, San Fernando sits 1,112 feet above sea level...
and Peumo
Peumo
Peumo is a Chilean city and commune in Cachapoal Province, O'Higgins Region. It is believed that Peumo was named for the vast amount of Cryptocarya alba, or Peumo trees, that grow there.-Demographics:...
.
A United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
summary of the earthquake reported damage at Rancagua
Rancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
, 177 kilometers southwest of Pichilemu. The mayor of Rancagua
Rancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
, Eduardo Soto, reported severe damage to homes in the town. A small tsunami was also reported, with sea wave heights of 16 centimetres (0.525 ft) at Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, and 29 centimetres (0.951 ft) at San Antonio
San Antonio, Chile
San Antonio, meaning "Saint Anthony", is a major Chilean port and a commune in San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region...
. Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter
Rodrigo Hinzpeter
Rodrigo Javier Hinzpeter Kirberg is a Chilean lawyer and politician. He was one of the founders of National Renewal, a center-right political party...
reported strong waves in Pichilemu and Bucalemu, and damage to a highway in O'Higgins Region. One person died of a heart attack during the earthquake in Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
, it was reported by La Tercera
La Tercera
La Tercera , formerly known as La Tercera de la Hora , is a daily newspaper published in Santiago, Chile and owned by Copesa. It is El Mercurios closest competitor....
.
Relief efforts stalled for about six hours because of the constant aftershocks. Seismologist Mario Pardo from the University of Chile Seismological Service said on 15 March 2010 that it was thought Pichilemu
Pichilemu
Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo...
was experiencing a seismic swarm
Earthquake swarm
Earthquake swarms are events where a local area experiences sequences of many earthquakes striking in a relatively short period of time. The length of time used to define the swarm itself varies, but the United States Geological Survey points out that an event may be on the order of days, weeks, or...
, due to concerns about the continued aftershocks in the area. After several power outages and tsunami alerts, many people in Pichilemu stayed at La Cruz Hill
La Cruz Hill
La Cruz Hill is a hill located in Pichilemu, Chile; the tallest point of the city. The hill is named after the cross located at its top.Mountain bike competitions take place regularly on the hill, which is also one of the main attractions of Pichilemu....
and at Cordón, Cáhuil
Cáhuil
Cáhuil is a Chilean village located south of Pichilemu, in the outfall of Nilahue Lake, in the O'Higgins Region. Cáhuil means "seagull's place" in Mapudungun language. The economy is based on the production of coastal salt, oysters, and choros...
.
Aftershocks
Within the following six hours there were ten aftershocks, two of magnitude 6 or greater, and seven between 5 and 6.| Date | Local time | Location | Coordinates | Depth | MW Moment magnitude scale The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 March 2010 | 11:39:48 | Pichilemu Pichilemu Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo... , O'Higgins O'Higgins Region The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers.... |
34°15′4"S 71°53′20"W | 11,0 km | 6,9 | |
| 11 March 2010 | 11:55:30 | La Estrella La Estrella, Chile La Estrella is a Chilean town and commune in Cardenal Caro Province, O'Higgins Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, La Estrella spans an area of and has 4,221 inhabitants . Of these, 1,380 lived in urban areas and 2,841 in rural areas... , O'Higgins O'Higgins Region The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers.... |
34°15′47"S 71°46′54"W | 18,0 km | 6,7 | |
| 11 March 2010 | 12:06:03 | Pichilemu Pichilemu Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo... , O'Higgins O'Higgins Region The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers.... |
34°13′3"S 71°53′20"W | 29,3 km | 6,0 |
2 May 2010 aftershock
The 2 May 2010 Pichilemu aftershock was a magnitude 5.8 MWMoment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
that struck O'Higgins
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, at 10:52 a.m. on 2 May 2010 at the epicenter
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
, at a depth of 32.9 kilometres (20 mi) and epicenter 12 kilometres (7 mi) northwest of Pichilemu
Pichilemu
Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo...
, according to the University of Chile Geological Service.
ONEMI
ONEMI
ONEMI or Oficina Nacional de Emergencia del Ministerio del Interior is a Chilean government agency dedicated to the prevention, organization, coordination and information relative to natural disasters. After the 1960 Valdivia earthquake a committee was formed to solve problems caused by the...
(National Emergencies Office) reported that the aftershock was felt most strongly in Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
, 258 kilometres (160.3 mi) south of Santiago. ONEMI's Pablo Marín said there were no casualties and only some telephone lines had collapsed. Six aftershocks subsequently hit the area that day. The earthquake was measured as magnitude 5.9 by the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
.
29 September 2010 Lolol aftershock
A further aftershock of the Pichilemu earthquake occurred on September 29, 2010 at 12:29:48 local time (16:29:49 UTC). It had a magnitudeRichter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
of 5.6 (originally reported as 5.9), and its epicenter was centered 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) southwest of Lolol
Lolol
Lolol is a Chilean commune and town in Colchagua Province, O'Higgins Region. Lolol was founded in 1830.-History:...
, O'Higgins Region
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
, 43 kilometres (26.7 mi) southwest of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, Chile
Santa Cruz is a Chilean city and commune, located in the Colchagua valley, in the O'Higgins Region, placed in the southern shore of Tinguiririca river, 110 miles from Santiago, Chile's capital city and 27 miles from San Fernando-History:...
, and 170 kilometers southwest of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, at a depth of 50 kilometres (31.1 mi).
Telephone calls were truncated in O'Higgins Region
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
. No infrastructural damage or casualties was reported. The aftershock was felt throughout the Valparaíso
Valparaíso Region
The V Valparaíso Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions.Valparaíso Region, 2006 With the country's third highest population of 1,539,852 million in 2002 and third smallest area of , the region is Chile's second most densely populated after the Santiago Metropolitan Region...
, Metropolitan
Santiago Metropolitan Region
Santiago Metropolitan Region or simply Metropolitan Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is the country's only landlocked administrative region and contains the nation's capital, Santiago...
, O'Higgins, and Maule
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
regions. It was felt stronger in Rancagua
Rancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
, San Vicente de Tagua Tagua
San Vicente de Tagua Tagua
San Vicente de Tagua Tagua, or just San Vicente, is a Chilean commune and city in Cachapoal Province, O'Higgins Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, San Vicente spans an area of and has 40,253 inhabitants . Of these, 21,965 lived in urban areas...
, Paredones
Paredones
Paredones is a Chilean town and commune in Cardenal Caro Province, O'Higgins Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Paredones spans an area of and has 6,695 inhabitants . Of these, 2,195 lived in urban areas and 4,500 in rural areas...
, Navidad
Navidad, Chile
Navidad is a Chilean commune in Cardenal Caro Province, O'Higgins Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Navidad spans an area of and has 5,422 inhabitants . Of these, 712 lived in urban areas and 4,710 in rural areas...
, Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
, Curicó
Curicó
Curicó , meaning "Black Waters" in Mapudungun , is the capital city of the Curicó Province, part of the Maule Region in Chile's central valley....
, Iloca
Iloca, Chile
Iloca is a small coastal town in Chile, located in the commune of Licantén, Curicó Province, Maule Region. It is located 120 kilometers west of Curicó....
, Molina
Molina, Chile
Molina is a Chilean city and commune in Curicó Province, Maule Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Molina spans an area of and has 38,521 inhabitants . Of these, 28,232 lived in urban areas and 10,289 in rural areas...
, and San Javier
San Javier, Chile
San Javier is a Chilean city and commune located in the Province of Linares, Maule Region. The city lies in the geographical center of the country, some south of Santiago, to the northwest of the provincial capital, Linares, and to the south of Talca, the regional capital...
, where it reached Mercalli
Mercalli intensity scale
The Mercalli intensity scale is a seismic scale used for measuring the intensity of an earthquake. It measures the effects of an earthquake, and is distinct from the moment magnitude M_w usually reported for an earthquake , which is a measure of the energy released...
V intensity.