A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale hit Chile on Saturday. The quake that devastated Haiti on Jan 12 was 6.9. The earthquake happened in the early morning hours on Saturday, at 3:34 am local time (1:34 a.m. EST). It occurred roughly 70 miles northeast of the city of Concepcion and 200 miles southwest of the capital, Santiago.
The Chilean President Michele Bachelet has described the region as being in a “state of catastrophe.” The death toll is so far impossible to estimate.
There are fears that the coastal quake could trigger tsunamis in the region. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has advised of possible tsunami waves in the northern Pacific, which could affect the west coast of the U.S., Alaska and parts of Asia.
The Chilean President Michele Bachelet has described the region as being in a “state of catastrophe.” The death toll is so far impossible to estimate.
There are fears that the coastal quake could trigger tsunamis in the region. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has advised of possible tsunami waves in the northern Pacific, which could affect the west coast of the U.S., Alaska and parts of Asia.
