Very strong earthquake near the coast of Iquique, Northern Chile
Last update: March 16, 2014 at 11:14 pm by By Armand Vervaeck
Update 23:13 UTC : Onemi Chile maintains his preventive evacuation order for the coastal areas of Northern Chile
Update 22:47 UTC : We have seen NO reports of damage so far
Most important aftershocks in the epicenter area (Time is Local Chile Time) :
18:26 Tarapaca 5,1 ML
18:32 Tarapaca 4,7 ML
18:59 Tarapaca 4,3 ML
19:29 Tarapaca 5,3 ML
Update 22:29 UTC : People leaving the beaches and going uphill after a preventive evacuation has been called by Onemi Chile. Image from Red Conciencia Argentina
Image courtesy and copyright Red Conciencia Argentina
Update 22:21 UTC : USGS has decreased his initial Magnitude from Mw 7.0 to Mw 6.7 – With Chilean sources mentioning M 6.5, seismological agencies are now narrowing the gap
Update 22:14 UTC : The picture below shows clouds of dust generated by rockfall and landslides in Tarapaca Chile. Local sources are reporting Traffic Chaos in Iquique
Update 22:10 UTC : New official statement from Onemi Chile : Según el Centro Sismológico de la Universidad de Chile, la magnitud del sismo fue de 6.5 Richter, a 75 Kms al Suroeste de Pisagua
Update 22:05 UTC : Official statement from Onemi Chile (contractory with USGS) – Según el Centro Sismológico de la Universidad de Chile, la magnitud del sismo fue de 6.3 Richter, a 69 Kms al Noroeste de Iquique.
Update 21:56 UTC : Based on all available data we have at the moment, earthquake-report.com expects a strong current in the sea (swimming in the sea is totally forbidden), and hopefully only slights damage. As the epicenter is in the sea we do not expect collapsed houses but surely minor damage.
Update 21:54 UTC : ONEMI Chile has ordered the preventive evacuation of the city of Tocopilla. In general people are afraid and are standing in the middle of the road.
Update 21:53 UTC : An aftershock measuring M5.7 has rattled the earthquake area
Update 21:47 UTC : A Tsunami buoy has reported a climb of 5 cm
Update 21:42 UTC : Chile sources have now increased their initial reading of M6.3 to M6.5
Update 21:37 UTC : Official message ONEMI CHILE : SE ESTABLECE EVACUACIÓN PREVENTIVA EN EL BORDE COSTERO DE LA REGIÓN DE ARICA Y PARINACOTA Y TARAPACÁ POR SISMO DE MEDIANA INTENSIDAD (preventive evacuation of coastal areas)
Important Update : SHOA Chile reports NO tsunami risk, but a small tsunami watch is in place
Update 21:32 UTC : Landslides are reported in Tarapaca
Reported Intensities by ONEMI Chile :
Región: Arica y Parinacota
Arica : VI (strong shaking)
Región: Tarapaca
Alto Hospicio : VI
Iquique: VI
Región: Antofagasta
Quillagua: IV
Important : This shaking map is from USGS and is based on M7.0 at a depth of 33 km
Update 21:29 UTC : Chile sources are mentioning a Magnitude of M6.3 vs initial readings of M7.0 bu USGS. The epicenter is off coast
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 6.7
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2014-03-16 17:16:31
GMT/UTC Time : 2014-03-16 21:16:31
from: http://earthquake-report.com/2014/03/16/very-strong-earthquake-iquique-chile-on-march-16-2014/