Posted on 02/27/2010 9:25:11 PM PST by Steelfish
Chile Reels From Devastating 8.8 Earthquake The massive quake tears down buildings and bridges and rips open highways in Santiago and Concepcion. The death toll of 300 is expected to rise.
By Chris Kraul February 27, 2010
Reporting from Bogota, Colombia - One of the biggest earthquakes in recorded history rocked Chile on Saturday, killing at least 300 people, toppling buildings and freeways, and sending sirens wailing thousands of miles away as governments scrambled to protect coastal residents from the ensuing tsunami.
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet declared parts of the country "catastrophe zones" in the wake of the 8.8 magnitude quake, which was centered about 70 miles offshore from the port city of Concepcion.
With images still fresh of Haiti's devastation from an earthquake last month, the world woke up to new disaster -- and fears of another catastrophic toll. But the Chile quake struck at a relatively deep 21.7 miles, and building codes are strict in a country that 50 years ago was struck by the biggest earthquake ever recorded: a magnitude 9.5.
Nonetheless, Bachelet said in an address to the nation Saturday night that a million buildings had been damaged. And with television footage showing topsy-turvy structures, severed bridges and highways whose pavement looked as if it had been tilled by some giant farm machine, the death toll was expected to rise.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
One million collapsed structures and only 300 dead?
Those are some tough people down in Chile.
I’m amazed at how well they have weathered this although they have a long history of very strong quakes.
They are very well prepared. I doubt we in Los Angeles would fare as well. We could learn quite a bit from the Chileans.
I thought the new “We are the World” video was going to stop earthquakes.
The OP has the title wrong. The article says 1 million buildings damaged, not collapsed.
Big difference. Sometimes my home is “damaged” in So Cal quakes. Like cracked walls. A million collapsed buildings would be catastrophic.
You make a good point. Some of the newscasters still keep saying “collapsed”
One million structures with big cracks and misaligned elevators. Not collapsed. Even this number is too high
TRADITIONALLY— Japanese had the right idea where all structures were made of wood and they were such good carpenters that (my guess) some were built to allow for some earthquake sway and vibration. Japanese islands are earthquake prone
Poor people in Haiti living in light structures did better than the rich living in their fancy concrete and masonry buildings
I;m just talking about the article which I am assuming you are quoting.
Chile has a population of 16 million. That many collapsed buildings is highly unlikely.
You are correct- Good observation.
> Chilean building boom coming up! The recession has ended for them!
A lot of people actually think like that. The reality is millions of people will spend years working just to get back to where they started... if they’re lucky. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_window_fallacy
My thoughts were much the same. Very fortunate.
Look at Europe after WWII. My wife's family moved there in the 60s and the Europeans were STILL trying to "get back" then.
My brother-in-law’s theory is that this earthquake, the heavy snow storms on the East Coast and more are just Nature’s reaction to the Saints winning the Superbowl.
Amazing only 300 people were killed in the Chile earthquake and no one killed in the Tsunami that was coming but whidh God stopped in its tracks.
Who dat?
parsy, in Louisiana
Has Danny Glover whined again how Global Warming is causing these earthquakes?
Chile was prepared. Still amazing...
Hawaii -- the tsunami arrived and was seen but the intensity less than expected. We don't know everything yet.
I heard other locations (Samoa?) were hit harder but have no info yet.
I believe God was watching over a lot of folks this day. It could have been far, far worse!
Article says "possibly damaged" not "collapsed".
Im listening to a live cast from a concepcion radio station right now.
the mayor of a town is on the air in TEARS. he is saying that his area is being looted by people armed with machetes and guns. the looters are taking computers and non survival items.
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