February 27, 2010 Earthquake: Maule, Concepcion, Talcahuano, Chile

Felt Reports

At least 521 people killed, 56 missing, about 12,000 injured, 800,000 displaced and at least 370,000 houses, 4,013 schools, 79 hospitals and 4,200 boats damaged or destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami in the Valparaiso-Concepcion-Temuco area. At least 1.8 million people affected in Araucania, Bio-Bio, Maule, O'Higgins, Region Metropolitana and Valparaiso. The total economic loss in Chile was estimated at $30 billion. Electricity, telecommunications and water supplies were disrupted and the airports at Concepcion and Santiago had minor damage. The tsunami damaged or destroyed many buildings and roads at Concepcion, Constitucion, Dichato and Pichilemu and also damaged boats and a dock in the San Diego area, USA. Maximum acceleration of 0.65g was recorded at Concepcion and more than 2 m of uplift along the coast was observed near Arauco. Felt (IX) at Concepcion; (VIII) at Chiguayante, Coronel, Lebu, Nacimiento, Penco, Rancagua, Santiago, San Vicente, Talca, Temuco and Tome; (VII) from La Ligua to Villarrica; (VI) as far as Ovalle and Valdivia. Felt in Chile as far as Iquique and Punta Arenas. Felt (V) at Cutral-Co and San Juan, (IV) at Cordoba and Mendoza and (III) at Buenos Aires, Argentina and (II) at Sao Paulo, Brazil. Felt in much of Argentina and in parts of Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Seiches were observed on Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA. A Pacific-wide tsunami was generated.

Tectonic Summary

This earthquake occurred at the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. The two plates are converging at a rate of 70 mm per year. The earthquake occurred as thrust-faulting on the interface between the two plates, with the Nazca plate moving down and landward below the South American plate.

(above from ref #1053)

As of May 2010, the number of confirmed deaths stood at 521, with 56 persons still missing (Ministry of Interior, 2010). The earthquake and tsunami destroyed over 81,000 dwelling units and caused major damage to another 109,000 (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, 2010). According to unconfirmed estimates, 50 multi-story reinforced concrete buildings were severely damaged, and four collapsed partially or totally. The earthquake caused damage to highways, railroads, ports, and airports due to ground shaking and liquefaction. The earthquake was followed by a blackout that affected most of the population, with power outages affecting selected regions for days. Estimates of economic damage are around $30 billion. According to Ministry of Interior data in May 2010, 124 of the 521 identified casualties and missing were attributed to the tsunami (Forensic Medical Service, 2010). (ref. #7795)

More than 1.5 million people were without power in and around the capital of Santiago, according to Chile's National Emergency Office, but the hardest-hit areas were farther south, in the Maule and Bio Bio regions along the coast. Authorities said 541 of the 708 reported deaths happened in Maule, where a sewer system collapsed, water towers were close to toppling and communities lacked basic services, the emergency office said. (ref. #6810)

562 killed, 267,1556 affected, $30 billion. (ref #1250)Six months later, in Nov 2010, and from information provided by the Ministry of Health, recorded cause of death in the Civil Registry, 26 more cases of deaths in relation to official listing of May 2010 are incorporated, making a total of 512 deaths from the earthquake/tsunami. If we add the 35 deaths from pre-existing diseases and 46 still missing victims to this figure, for a total of 593 victims of the earthquake incident product.

2010 February 27, 06:34:12.97 UTC, 36.207 S 72.848 W, 25 km depth, 8.79 Mw (reference #10476, v.10)

2010 February 27, 06:34:11.53 UTC, 36.122 S 72.898 W, 22.9 km depth, 8.8 Mw (reference #10476, v.10)