Located on the western border of South America, next to the Pacific Ocean.
When did the earthquake occur?
27th Feb 2010, 03:34 local time
Chile lies close to the point where the Nazca plate is crashing into the South American plate.
The Nazca plate, which makes up the sea bed under the eastern Pacific Ocean, is approximately 96km thick and travelling eastward, sliding under the South American plate at abt 8cm yearly. This process is called subduction, where the edge of the oceanic crust (in this case, the Nazca plate) is heading towards the earth's mantle and heated up, eventually being destroyed and returned to the earth's interior.
However, there are times where the plates become locked together until huge amounts of energy build up and when released, causes an earthquake.
This was what caused the earthquake in Chile. The two locked plates broke free and slipped past each other, causing an explosive release.
Damages and Reprocussions
Concepcion, Chile’s second largest city, suffered most of the damage as it was closest to the quake’s epicentre.
Social
- ~Death toll - 497 identified fatalties, with hundreds still missing. Survivors had to deal with the loss of loved ones on top of the effects of the disaster.
- ~1.5m homes were destroyed, leaving many homeless and possessions lost
- ~Over 1 million has been displaced by the disaster and many are still waiting for aid
- ~Looting eventually became a problem. Some survivors started stealing others' possesions for survival or for their own gain, causing the people to be on constant guard.
Economical
- ~Buildings and roads collapsed, some buildings caught fire.
- ~Phone lines and electricity was cut
It has been estimated that it will cost at least $30bn (£20bn) to rebuild the country after the earthquake. But $30bn represents nearly 20% of Chilean GDP and would make a significant dent in the state coffers. It will also cost the global insurance industry as much as $7bn (£4.7bn), Swiss Re has estimated. Former President Bachelet has said that Chile's reconstruction will take three to four years, with loans and budgetary savings used to rebuild infrastructure, homes and industry.
Political
- ~Some Chileans felt abandoned by the authorities in the wake of the disaster.
The earthquake also caused a tsunami across the Pacific Ocean, affecting Juan Fernandez islands and French Polynesia, which was hit by 6ft wave.
Responses
The Chilean government was quick in responding to the large scale disaster that hit the nation. It has been working hard to make sure the assistance reaches the places it is most needed.
Some 400 government trucks have been despatched to an aid centre in Concepcion. 16,000 tonnes of emergency supplies have arrived and the international community has also responded in recent days with particular help coming from the countries of Latin America.
My Thoughts
It is very unfortunate for the Chileans to experience such a large-scale disaster. It must be a life changing experience for many, after losing their loved ones on top of losing their homes and possessions. I believe, it is important for them to stick together, along with their new president, Sebastian Pinera, and try to rebuild Chile to what it was before.
It is also extremely important that Chile receives aid from other nations to help lessen their hardship.
With the many natural disasters happening in the world, I feel very fortunate to be living in a country that is geographhically safe from the disasters. I am truly lucky indeed and I sympathize with the Chileans for the terrible quake that ripped through their country.
Nature is a force not to be reckoned with that we cannot take living on this planet for granted.
References
Allen-Mills T., & Crooks N. (2010, February 28). Huge earthquake rips through Chile. The Sunday Times, p. 3.
Smith J. (2010). Chile Earthquakes And Aftershocks. Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://cnmnewsnetwork.com/12788/chile-earthquake-and-aftershocks/
Chile struck by one of strongest-ever earthquakes (2010). Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/772807--chile-struck-by-one-of-strongest-ever-earthquakes
Chile puts quake damage at $30bn (2010). Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8565493.stm
Chile's earthquake 'may cost insurers up to $7bn' (2010). Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8559127.stm
Lawlessness after quake in Chile fishingvillage (2010). Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8550960.stm
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