8.8 Earthquake in Chile [Update at #277]

KFI LA http://www.kfiam640.com/pages/jk2010.html ^

[Choose Ye This Day]

Woman on Chile TV, saying she wants to sue the builders of her apartment building, because it’s uninhabitable—too unstable to go into, especially with all the aftershocks. Ma’am...it was an 8.8 earthquake. Come on.

[!1776!]

In the last 50 years in the U.S., how many people have been killed and how many houses destroyed by tornadoes compared to earthquakes?

Comparing the two types of events on a limited time scale is probably not a fair comparison. One event occurs on a geologic scale, the other on a seasonal scale. Also, just like every earthquake is not a high energy event - neither is every tornado...

In magnitude terms, earthquakes have greater immediate and prolonged potential for death primarily due to the size of the area that can be impacted. This also influences the ability to quickly position effective rescue resources to reach injured or trapped survivors, not to mention the lerger picture of infrastructure damage.

For comparison, the worst death tool to hit the U.S. by tornado occurred in 1925 with 625 people killed. By comparison the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake killed approximately 3,000.

A handfull of very powerful tornadoes occur evey year in the US. So far (thankfully) very powerful earthquakes are less common. I hope it stays that way because the potential for loss of life, and secondarily property is significantly higher for earthquakes...

I live in San Diego too and I'll take an earthquake any day over a tornado.

I am the exact opposite - probably because you and I have had a chance to normalize the individual threats we face based on long experience. I would not handle an earthquake well - to quote my kids - that would freak me out - and probably at a level most californians would brush off the same way I brush off a clap of thunder...

Take care.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Yup, that’s the one. I guess it’s not as big as it looked on TV, but still not something I’d want in the middle of my street.

[blueplum]

and Japan joins the party:

Ryukyu Islands, Japan
Magnitude: 5.2
Time: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:19:51 UTC

[GeronL]

wow

[GeronL]

thanks

[dragnet2]

Comparing the two types of events on a limited time scale is probably not a fair comparison.

The fact remains, more have been killed in tornadoes than earthquakes in the U.S.

[!1776!]

I believe tornadoes have killed many more

I can't vouce for the accuracy of the site but see:

http://www.epicdisasters.com/

Flood related deaths are the big number in the US.

[GeronL]

The video seems to suggests a real tsunami hit them just after the quake

[dragnet2]

You bet, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes are the real big killers in the U.S.

No question.

[GeronL]

video shows a house in the river

[floriduh voter]

http://www.hitsunami.info

[maggief]

5.8

MAP 5.8 2010/02/27 23:02:01 -37.755 -72.713 35.2 ARAUCANIA, CHILE

Earthquake Details
Magnitude 5.8
Date-Time

* Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 23:02:01 UTC
* Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 08:02:01 PM at epicenter

Location 37.755°S, 72.713°W
Depth 35.2 km (21.9 miles)
Region ARAUCANIA, CHILE
Distances

* 107 km (66 miles) SSE (164°) from Concepcion, Chile
* 111 km (69 miles) N (358°) from Temuco, Chile
* 232 km (144 miles) N (11°) from Valdivia, Chile

[stormer]

That number will rise. That aside, Chile is a much weather nation with a well developed infrastructure and a history of devastating earthquakes. The area of impact is also much less densely populated than the area around Port au Prince. The Chileans are much better equipped to deal with this situation.

[SE Mom]

Not much of a break ;)

I just realized it’s 6:30...put some chicken in the oven..think I’ll pick some broccoli from the garden and make chicken divan! I’m hungry!

[floriduh voter]

It’s summer there though. They can get dehydrated if they don’t have water dropped in. The roads are bad but I don’t think Chileans will riot over food or water drops.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Looking through those pics, Obama giving a speech with a podium drives me nuts! Can this man not come out and speak with empathy... he has to have a podium just to give a simple speech regarding our concern and support for those suffering... AAAH!!!!!!

[stormer]

Come on yourself. The woman has probably just lost everything she owns, has had the living shit scared out of her, and is no doubt in shock. She deserves to vent.

[TornadoAlley3]

Dude....you don't have sense to get in a shelter when you hear the warning? Today's weather Doppler warnings etc, alert radios etc, very rare that a person is killed by a tornado unless they did not heed the warning and stayed in the trailer park.

[floriduh voter]

Here’s a tsunami thread.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2460455/posts