- Title: Seismologist predicts large quake in Chile as it emerges from latest jolt
- Date: 27th April 2017
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (APRIL 27, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS FROM NATIONAL SEISMOLOGY CENTRE WORKING MONITORS ON SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN CHILE MONITOR SHOWING QUAKE ACTIVITY IN THE VALPARAISO REGION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF CHILE'S NATIONAL SEISMOLOGY CENTRE, SERGIO BARRIENTOS, SAYING: "We believe that given the recurrence of large earthquakes in Chile and the time that it takes for one to come, there is a convergence of plates of 6 to 6.5 centimetres a year between the Nazca and South American plates, that makes quakes of about a magnitude 8 cause displacement of about four, five, six or seven meters. So you would expect that these types of earthquakes occur every 80, 100 years... around that."
- Embargoed: 11th May 2017 21:46
- Keywords: earthquake Chile Valparaiso seismologist
- Location: VALPARAISO, SANTIAGO AND DICHATO, CHILE
- City: VALPARAISO, SANTIAGO AND DICHATO, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Earthquakes/Volcanoes/Tsunami
- Reuters ID: LVA0026E6E8G3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Chile's seismology centre has called on the South American country to be prepared for a large quake which could hit at any minute, just days after the nation was jolted by a strong 6.9 tremor.
Earlier this week a strong earthquake of 6.9 struck off the west coast of Chile, briefly causing alarm along the Pacific Coast but largely sparing the quake-prone nation of any serious damage.
Chile, located on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," has a long history of deadly quakes, including an 8.8 magnitude quake in 2010 off the south-central coast, which also triggered a tsunami that devastated coastal towns. More than 500 people died.
That was the sixth-largest earthquake ever recorded, according to the USGS. The largest recorded earthquake in history was also in Chile, a 9.5-magnitude quake in 1960.
Sergio Barrientos from Chile's National Seismology Centre explained to Reuters that the convergence of plates near Chile has been responsible for an uptake in seismic activity.
Predicting a 7.5-magnitude quake to hit, he said residents of Chile should be prepared.
Chile's long coastline facing the Pacific could make any strong quake even deadlier with the threat of tsunamis.
Given its long history of seismic activity, buildings in Chile have strict standards to withstand quakes.
Chile's emergency body, ONEMI, has also created an eight-step family plan to help citizens deal with a large quake. Education programmes have also been rolled out to schools to teach youth on what to do in the event of an earthquake or tsunami. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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