sali07
02-27-2010, 12:26 PM
A massive earthquake of 8.3 magnitude has struck central Chile.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47384000/gif/_47384298_chile_santiago_concep3_0210.gif
The epicentre was 91km (56 miles) north-east of the city of Concepcion and 317km south-west of the capital, Santiago.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck at 0634 GMT at a depth of about 59.4km. There is no information yet on any casualties.
The US government said a tsunami warning had been issued for Chile, Peru and Ecuador.
Buildings in Santiago were reported to have shaken for between 10 and 30 seconds, with the loss of electricity in some parts of the capital.
Telephone lines and internet connections appear to have been damaged.
The USGS said: "An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicentre within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours."
Chile suffered the biggest earthquake of the 20th century when a 9.5 magnitude quake struck the city of Valdivia in 1960, killing 1,655 people.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8540289.stm
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47384000/gif/_47384298_chile_santiago_concep3_0210.gif
The epicentre was 91km (56 miles) north-east of the city of Concepcion and 317km south-west of the capital, Santiago.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck at 0634 GMT at a depth of about 59.4km. There is no information yet on any casualties.
The US government said a tsunami warning had been issued for Chile, Peru and Ecuador.
Buildings in Santiago were reported to have shaken for between 10 and 30 seconds, with the loss of electricity in some parts of the capital.
Telephone lines and internet connections appear to have been damaged.
The USGS said: "An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicentre within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours."
Chile suffered the biggest earthquake of the 20th century when a 9.5 magnitude quake struck the city of Valdivia in 1960, killing 1,655 people.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8540289.stm