Differences Between Chile And Haiti Earthquakes
Posted on 28 February 2010 by LynThomas in Uncategorized
The day after one of the biggest earthquakes ever recorded, there is a death toll of more than 700, while untold numbers are still missing and 2 million people displaced, wounded or otherwise affected. The death toll is expected to rise further.
The 90 second, 8.8 earthquake set off warnings right across the Pacific, as governments prepared for a possible tsunami. Several quakes registering 5 on the Momentum Magnitude, (a more accurate measure of an earthquake’s energy) hit Chile prior to the 21.7 mile deep major quake. Approximately 30 aftershocks followed, some measuring greater than 6.0.
Tsunami surges of 10 feet hit the Chilean islands of Juan Fernandez, leaving 3 people dead and 13 missing. Many had put out to sea in small boats, in order to avoid the effects of the earthquakes.
A series of small 3-foot tsunamis hit the big island of Haiwaii but caused no damage. The alerts were called off after smaller-than-expected waves washed ashore on Hawaii, Japan and South California. Thousands of people had been evacuated and numerous South Pacific islanders fled to higher ground. Some people watched as waves of up to 1.5 metres high rammed into New Zealand’s east coast.
In some of the most heavily effected areas of Chile, where residents were without water or electricity, crowds overran supermarkets, making off with food, water and diapers, as well as television sets. Several banks were hit in the port city of Concepcion, the country’s second largest city. Police in armoured vehicles sprayed looters with water cannons and arrested several people, mainly young men.
Concepción resident Patricio Martinez told reporters. “We have money to buy it, but the big stores are closed, so what are we supposed to do?” Army troops are being sent to the area.
After the biggest earthquake ever recorded, the 9.5, 20.5 miles deep, quake in 1960, the Chilean government forced builders to adhere to strict building codes. In spite of this Bachelet’s government estimates that a million buildings have been damaged.
Haiti
The recent 7 earthquake in Haiti killed more than 215,000 people and left a million homeless. Haiti’s earthquake was 700 times less powerful than the one that hit Chile, but it was closer to the earth’s surface.
While Chilean President was on the streets almost immediately, reassuring citizens, Haiti’s President Rene Preval has been almost AWOL for weeks.
Haiti, the western hemisphere’s poorest country and Chile, Latin America’s highest per capita GDP, are both set on top of large, volatile fault lines. Haiti let its buildings go up with little or no input from engineers, amid widespread corruption. 13 of the 14 federal ministry building pancaked in the Jan 12 earthquakes.
Haiwaii Tsunami in 1960
An extremely destructive 25 foot tsunami followed the 1960 Chilean quake, causing more of the 5,700 deaths. Most from the tsunami.
61 people were killed by the tsunami in Hawaii and Japan, with tremendous destruction to property.
5 Responses to “Differences Between Chile And Haiti Earthquakes”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
-
-
28 February 2010
[...] Read more on the effects of all three earthquakes… [...]
i have several relatives who were also vicitimized by the earthquake in Haiti. thank God that they were not seriously hurt. i hope and pray that Haiti would be able to recover soon from this disaster.
Have anyone noticed that earthquake is a bit frequent these days? . Does climate change have any thing to do with earthquake?
some of my friends who work in haiti were also victimized by that terrible earthquake.- i was very thankful that they only suffered minor scratches.
Thanks, wonderful blog… really enjoy it and added it into my social bookmarks. Keep up the good work