ID :
108916
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 08:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/108916
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M8.8 quake hits central Chile, over 100 reported killed+
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 27 Kyodo - A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 struck near the central Chilean city of Concepcion early Saturday, killing over 100 people and triggering a
tsunami, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and media reports.
The quake struck about 115 kilometers north-northeast of Concepcion around 3:34
a.m. with the epicenter estimated at 35 kilometers underground, the USGS said.
Chile's state-run television reported that the death toll was over 100, while
Reuters news agency and local media quoted President Michelle Bachelet as
saying there were at least 85 confirmed deaths in the Maule region alone and it
is possible the number will rise.
The Associated Press reported that Bachelet had declared a ''state of
catastrophe'' following the earthquake. It also said Chilean TV had shown
collapsed homes, a large building engulfed in flames and injured people lying
in the streets of Concepcion, the second-largest city in the South American
country.
Local media reported that casualties in Concepcion were not included in the
death toll because of disrupted communications.
Buildings also shook and collapsed in the capital Santiago, more than 300
kilometers away from the epicenter.
Reuters reported that witnesses in Santiago had felt very strong tremors for 10
to 30 seconds and there were power outages in some parts of the city.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a 2.3-meter high tsunami was
observed in Talcahuano, central Chile.
A local radio station said serious tsunami damage was reported in the Juan
Fernandez Islands, about 600 kilometers off the coast of Chile, although
details were not immediately known.
Tsunami warnings were issued, including for South America, Hawaii and
Australia. Japan's Meteorological Agency said a tsunami roughly 1 meter high
could reach Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara island chain in the Pacific
early Sunday afternoon.
The PTWC said the first tsunami is forecast to hit Hawaii at 11:19 a.m. local
time Saturday (6:19 a.m. Sunday Japan time) and called for coastal residents to
evacuate. Reuters quoted center officials as saying that waves of up to 4.8
meters could hit the coast.
The PTWC also said it is possible that up to 53 countries could be affected by
tsunamis caused by the quake, which the USGS said was similar in intensity to
the fifth most powerful quake recorded since 1900. The most powerful quake on
record with a magnitude of 9.5 struck the coast of Chile in 1960.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said no deaths or injuries had been reported
among the roughly 1,200 Japanese people living in Chile.
The Japanese Embassy in Santiago said it had confirmed the safety of more than
80 percent of the 858 Japanese long-stay travelers and permanent residents in
the city. But the embassy added that its attempts to contact 31 of the 38
Japanese people in Concepcion had been unsuccessful.
Media reports quoted Bachelet as urging people in Chile to stay calm while
saying police and hospital services are functioning.
According to the USGS, a strong aftershock with a magnitude of 6.2 struck
around 3:52 a.m. shortly after the major quake, followed by another one with a
magnitude of 5.4 around 4:19 a.m.
The international airport in Santiago was closed and all flights have been
canceled, Reuters quoted airline officials in Brazil and Peru as saying.
Chilean aviation officials told local media later that the airport will be
closed for at least three days.
In Tokyo, the Japanese government set up a liaison office at the prime
minister's office Saturday evening to gather information on the quake.
In May 1960, a tsunami struck the coasts of Hokkaido and the Sanriku region
after a huge M9.5 quake in Chile, leaving around 140 people dead or missing.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters that he had instructed
relevant officials to gather information on the circumstances in the affected
area and to prepare aid if necessary.
''We are preparing to respond to a request for emergency supplies at any
time,'' he said after establishing the liaison office.
==Kyodo
tsunami, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and media reports.
The quake struck about 115 kilometers north-northeast of Concepcion around 3:34
a.m. with the epicenter estimated at 35 kilometers underground, the USGS said.
Chile's state-run television reported that the death toll was over 100, while
Reuters news agency and local media quoted President Michelle Bachelet as
saying there were at least 85 confirmed deaths in the Maule region alone and it
is possible the number will rise.
The Associated Press reported that Bachelet had declared a ''state of
catastrophe'' following the earthquake. It also said Chilean TV had shown
collapsed homes, a large building engulfed in flames and injured people lying
in the streets of Concepcion, the second-largest city in the South American
country.
Local media reported that casualties in Concepcion were not included in the
death toll because of disrupted communications.
Buildings also shook and collapsed in the capital Santiago, more than 300
kilometers away from the epicenter.
Reuters reported that witnesses in Santiago had felt very strong tremors for 10
to 30 seconds and there were power outages in some parts of the city.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a 2.3-meter high tsunami was
observed in Talcahuano, central Chile.
A local radio station said serious tsunami damage was reported in the Juan
Fernandez Islands, about 600 kilometers off the coast of Chile, although
details were not immediately known.
Tsunami warnings were issued, including for South America, Hawaii and
Australia. Japan's Meteorological Agency said a tsunami roughly 1 meter high
could reach Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara island chain in the Pacific
early Sunday afternoon.
The PTWC said the first tsunami is forecast to hit Hawaii at 11:19 a.m. local
time Saturday (6:19 a.m. Sunday Japan time) and called for coastal residents to
evacuate. Reuters quoted center officials as saying that waves of up to 4.8
meters could hit the coast.
The PTWC also said it is possible that up to 53 countries could be affected by
tsunamis caused by the quake, which the USGS said was similar in intensity to
the fifth most powerful quake recorded since 1900. The most powerful quake on
record with a magnitude of 9.5 struck the coast of Chile in 1960.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said no deaths or injuries had been reported
among the roughly 1,200 Japanese people living in Chile.
The Japanese Embassy in Santiago said it had confirmed the safety of more than
80 percent of the 858 Japanese long-stay travelers and permanent residents in
the city. But the embassy added that its attempts to contact 31 of the 38
Japanese people in Concepcion had been unsuccessful.
Media reports quoted Bachelet as urging people in Chile to stay calm while
saying police and hospital services are functioning.
According to the USGS, a strong aftershock with a magnitude of 6.2 struck
around 3:52 a.m. shortly after the major quake, followed by another one with a
magnitude of 5.4 around 4:19 a.m.
The international airport in Santiago was closed and all flights have been
canceled, Reuters quoted airline officials in Brazil and Peru as saying.
Chilean aviation officials told local media later that the airport will be
closed for at least three days.
In Tokyo, the Japanese government set up a liaison office at the prime
minister's office Saturday evening to gather information on the quake.
In May 1960, a tsunami struck the coasts of Hokkaido and the Sanriku region
after a huge M9.5 quake in Chile, leaving around 140 people dead or missing.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters that he had instructed
relevant officials to gather information on the circumstances in the affected
area and to prepare aid if necessary.
''We are preparing to respond to a request for emergency supplies at any
time,'' he said after establishing the liaison office.
==Kyodo
