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2010 Pichilemu earthquakes

Coordinates: 34°55′12″S 71°57′00″W / 34.920°S 71.950°W / -34.920; -71.950
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2010 Pichilemu earthquake
Damage at the Ross Park of Pichilemu.
UTC time??
Magnitude6.9 Mw[1][2]
Depth31.2 kilometres (19.4 mi)*[2]
EpicenterPichilemu, Chile
34°55′12″S 71°57′00″W / 34.920°S 71.950°W / -34.920; -71.950
Areas affected Chile,  Argentina
Max. intensityMM X
TsunamiSmall tsunami
Casualties1 dead

The 2010 Pichilemu earthquake was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred on 11 March 2010, at 11:39 local time (14:39 UTC).[1] It occurred 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwest from Pichilemu, O'Higgins Region, Chile.[2][3][4][5][6] A Pacific-wide tsunami warning was not issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, although they pointed out the possibility of local tsunamis within 100 kilometres (62 mi) of the epicenter, between La Serena and Concepción.[7] One person was reported dead.[8]

The increased regional stress from the 27 February 8.8 earthquake almost two weeks before caused the earthquake which was felt throughout central Chile.[1] This earthquake and its aftershocks were initially considered to be aftershocks of the 27 February earthquake, but University of Chile Seismologist Jaime Campos said it was an "independent earthquake".[9] At least 11 aftershocks followed, causing panic throughout coastal towns between the Coquimbo and Los Lagos regions.[10][11]

Geological background and tectonics

Seismic hazard near the epicenter of the earthquake.

Although news media reported the earthquake as an aftershock of the February earthquake in Chile,[5][12] a preliminary geological summary issued by the United States Geological Survey considered it to be an independent earthquake,[1] a conclusion which seismologist Jaime Campos of the University of Chile also reached.[9]

The earthquake occurred in the region of the plate boundary between the Nazca and South America plates, in the aftershock region of the 27 February earthquake. The Pichilemu earthquake was caused by the change in regional stress from the 27 February earthquake. Preliminary analyses 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 faulting 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.[1]

The earthquake was positioned west of Pichilemu,[2] and as of 15 March 2010, more than 50 aftershocks had occurred in the area.[13]

Damage and casualties

Private house affected by the earthquake, in Pichilemu

The area most affected by the earthquake was Pichilemu, the epicenter of the earthquake. It destroyed Agustín Ross Park, most of Agustín Ross Cultural Centre, and severely affected the Espinillo and Rodeíllo villages.[14][15] One death was reported in Talca.[8] The earthquake was also reported to have been felt in Mendoza,[16] Bariloche, Córdoba, San Rafael, Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Asunción.[17][18]

According to a report by the National Emergencies Office of Chile 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.[19] A United States Geological Survey summary of the earthquake reported damage at Rancagua, and a small tsunami with wave heights of 16 centimetres (1 ft) at Valparaíso, and 29 centimetres (1 ft) at San Antonio.[1] Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter reported strong waves in Pichilemu[20] and Bucalemu, and damage to a highway in O'Higgins Region.[21] The mayor of Rancagua, Eduardo Soto, reported severe damage to homes in the town.[22]

Relief efforts stalled for about 6 hours because of the constant aftershocks.[21] Seismologist Mario Pardo from the University of Chile Seismological Service told Radio Cooperativa on 15 March 2010 that it was thought Pichilemu was experiencing a seismic swarm, due to concerns about the continued aftershocks in the area.[23] After several power outages and tsunami alerts, many people in Pichilemu stayed at La Cruz Hill and at Cordón, Cáhuil.[15][24]

The earthquake took place shortly before the new president, 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.[25] The presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay were also present, but television footage showed that the inauguration was not interrupted.[26] One of the first acts of Piñera's government was to decree "catastrophe state" in O'Higgins Region.[27][28]

Aftershocks

Shakemap generated by United States Geological Survey of the 2 May 2010 aftershock

Within the following six hours there were ten aftershocks, two of magnitude 6 or greater, and seven between 5 and 6.[10]

11 March 2010 Pichilemu earthquake and main aftershocks (over 6,0 MW)
Date Local time Location Coordinates Depth MW Notes
11 March 2010 11:39:48 Pichilemu, O'Higgins 34°15′4″S 71°53′20″W / 34.25111°S 71.88889°W / -34.25111; -71.88889 11,0 km 6,9 [1]
11 March 2010 11:55:30 La Estrella, O'Higgins 34°15′47″S 71°46′54″W / 34.26306°S 71.78167°W / -34.26306; -71.78167 18,0 km 6,7 [18]
11 March 2010 12:06:03 Pichilemu, O'Higgins 34°13′3″S 71°53′20″W / 34.21750°S 71.88889°W / -34.21750; -71.88889 29,3 km 6,0 [18]

2 May 2010 aftershock

The 2 May 2010 Pichilemu aftershock was a magnitude 5.9[29] (also measured by the University of Chile Seismologic Service as 5.8)[30] MW 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.[30]

ONEMI (National Emergencies Office) reported that the aftershock was felt most strongly in Talca, 258 kilometres (160 mi) south of Santiago. ONEMI's Pablo Marín said there were no casualties and only some telephone lines had collapsed.[31] Six aftershocks subsequently hit the area that day.[32]

29 September 2010 Lolol aftershock

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An aftershock of the Pichilemu earthquake occurred on September 29, 2010 at 12:29:48 local time (16:29:49 UTC).[33] It had a magnitude of 5.6 (originally reported as 5.9), and its epicenter was centered 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) southwest of Lolol, O'Higgins Region,[33] 43 kilometres (27 mi) southwest of Santa Cruz,[34] and 170 kilometers southwest of Santiago,[35] at a depth of 50 kilometres (31 mi).[33][34]

Telephone calls were truncated for in O'Higgins Region.[33] No infrastructural damage or casualties was been reported.[33] The aftershock was felt throughout the Valparaíso, Metropolitan, O'Higgins, and Maule regions.[33] 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.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Magnitude 6.9 - LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE". United States Geological Survey. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "Informe de Sismo" (in Spanish). Servicio Sismológico de la Universidad de Chile. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  3. ^ "Doce réplicas con epicentro en Pichilemu" (in Spanish). El Carabobeño of Valencia, Carabobo. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010. Google Cache.
  4. ^ "El Mayor Fue de 7,2° Richter" (in Spanish). Chile.com. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  5. ^ a b "New Chile quake as Pinera sworn in as president". BBC News. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Réplica: Onemi sitúa epicentro en Pichilemu" (in Spanish). Televisión Nacional de Chile–24 Horas. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  7. ^ "Tsunami information bulletin". Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Hombre fallece en Talca de un paro cardíaco en medio de fuertes réplicas" (in Spanish). La Tercera. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Sismólogo de la Universidad de Chile: "Es Posible Otro Terremoto"" (in Spanish). Última Hora. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Fuertes réplicas y alerta de tsunami en la zona centro-sur" (in Spanish). La Nación. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Alerta de tsunami pone a prueba evacuación en La Serena y Coquimbo" (in Spanish). El Ovallino. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  12. ^ "Americas – Chile president vows to rebuild". Al Jazeera. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  13. ^ "Unos 50 sismos con el mismo epicentro han sacudido Chile desde el jueves" (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  14. ^ "Espinillo: uno de los pueblos olvidados tras el terremoto" (in Spanish). Teletrece, Canal 13. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  15. ^ a b Jorge Hans (16 March 2010). "Pichilemu: entre los cerros y el mar" (in Spanish). Canal 13. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  16. ^ "Cinco fuertes réplicas del terremoto de Chile se sintieron en Mendoza" (in Spanish). Diario Uno. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  17. ^ "M6.9–Libertador O'higgins, Chile". United States Geological Survey. March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  18. ^ a b c "Significant Earthquakes of the World". United States Geological Survey. 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  19. ^ "Onemi: caída de pasarela, 'pequeño oleaje' y cortes de luz tras sismo" (in Spanish). La Tercera. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  20. ^ "Chile levanta la alerta de tsunami decretada tras el sismo de 6.9 grados" (in Spanish). CNN México. March 11, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  21. ^ a b Michael Warren (11 March 2010). "Chile Earthquake 11 March: 7.2-Magnitude Quake Hits Chile During Inauguration". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  22. ^ "Chile leader: 'Significant damage' in Rancagua". CNN. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  23. ^ "Experto descartó que Pichilemu sea un enjambre sísmico por alta cantidad de réplicas" (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  24. ^ "Pichilemu durmió en cerros por temor a tsunami" (in Spanish). La Nación. March 12, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  25. ^ Javier López (11 March 2010). "Billionaire Pinera takes power as quakes jolt Chile". Reuters. Retrieved 5 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Text "Reuters" ignored (help)
  26. ^ "Three strong earthquakes strike Chile in quick succession". CNN.com. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  27. ^ "Presidente descarta toque de queda en VI Región y nombra a nuevo director de Onemi". La Tercera. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  28. ^ "Presidente Piñera decreta Estado de Catástrofe en la Región de O´higgins" (in Spanish). El Rancahuaso. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  29. ^ "Shakemap us2010vubl". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  30. ^ a b "Informe de Sismo" (in Spanish). Servicio Sismológico de la Universidad de Chile. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  31. ^ "Sismo de 5.9 grados en Chile" (in Spanish). El Nuevo Día. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  32. ^ "Seis sismos se han percibido este domingo en el sector de Pichilemu" (in Spanish). La Tercera. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g "Sismo de mediana intensidad entre regiones de Valparaíso y Maule" (in Spanish). National Emergencies Office of Chile. September 29, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  34. ^ a b "Informe de Sismo" (in Spanish). University of Chile Seismological Service (Servicio de Sismología de la Universidad de Chile). September 2, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  35. ^ "Chile: el sismo fue de 5,9 grados" (in Spanish). BBC News. September 29, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010. Template:Es
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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Magnitude 6.9 - Libertador O'Higgins, Chile: Summary. United States Geological Survey. (in the "Geological background" section).


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