Why did the February 2010 earthquake occur in Chile?
This subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate is causing high stress beneath Chile, making the country highly prone to large magnitude earthquakes. As it spread, the fault slip generated earthquake shaking and caused vertical and horizontal deformation of the Earth’s surface over a large area.
How was Chile affected by the 2010 earthquake?
Chile earthquake of 2010, severe earthquake that occurred on February 27, 2010, off the coast of south-central Chile, causing widespread damage on land and initiating a tsunami that devastated some coastal areas of the country. Together, the earthquake and tsunami were responsible for more than 500 deaths.
How many people went missing in the Chile earthquake?
More than 350 people died in the coastal town of Constitución (Maule region) due to waves from a tsunami….Factsheet Chile earthquake (08/03/2010)
| GLOBAL | |
|---|---|
| Number of fatalities (minimum estimate) 1 | 528 |
| Number of injured (minimum estimate) 2 | 500 |
| Total number of people affected in some way | 2,000,000 |
| EU NATIONALS |
What cities were affected by the 2010 Chile earthquake?
The earthquake was felt in the capital Santiago at MM VII (Very strong) or MM VIII. Tremors were felt in many Argentine cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, and La Rioja. Tremors were felt as far north as the city of Ica in southern Peru (approx. 2,400 km (1,500 mi) away).
How did the 2010 Chile earthquake affect the natural environment?
The earthquake impacted the shoreline, ocean floor and the mouths of rivers. Changes to the ocean floor also impacted shellfish and sea grass, in some areas such as Tirua, many of the grass beds had disappeared either having been buried in sand or uprooted.
When did the 2010 Chile earthquake happen?
February 27, 2010
2010 Chile earthquake/Start dates
On the morning of 27 February 2010, an intense Mw 8.8 earthquake with an epicenter located in the region of Maule, Chile, was felt across the country (Arriagada et al., 2011; Llera et al., 2016).