Major Chile Quake,

[PLAYER57832]

For a reference, an 8.8 Rictor scale quake is about 100 time greater than the one that disrupted the World Series in San Francisco. It's a logarithmic scale. (if early reports of the level were accurate).

And, if they get by with 100 dead (current reports), they will be extremely lucky. EDIT 2 days later, its now over 400

Link to Photos from Chili (some recent additions, 2-28):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35619936/ns ... ginSlide=1

More info from Chili (2-28-2010), with links to videos and such:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35615455/ns ... ?GT1=43001


How to help:
http://www.bing.com/news/search?q=how+t ... &FORM=EWRE

As for Hawaii, and other parts of the Pacific coastal regions... looks like they all escaped!

[oVo]

At least Hawaii and the Pacific Rim coastal areas
have a few hours warning to evacuate.

[muy_thaiguy]

At least Hawaii and the Pacific Rim coastal areas
have a few hours warning to evacuate.

A few hours will not be enough, as the only ways out are either by air or by sea. And the sea won't exactly be safe, so that leaves only flight, where some will be able to evacuate, but the vast majority will be stuck, whether they want to leave or not.

[PLAYER57832]

The effect will vary very heavily. Hawaii is probably the least vulnerable, because people can all pretty much walk to safety (and are reccomended to do so).

Even in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, you won't have to go that far to get to safety. I do worry about Los Angeles, Sand Diego, etc. Alaska, too. And, even if people get out, the damage will be quite serious.


The one saving grace is that it might not hit or might be far less than is feared. Time will tell.

[GabonX]

Do you really think Alaska is in range?

It would seem to me that the waves would be heading West, not due North, but I really don't know much about this..

[PLAYER57832]

Alaska is getting warnings. Alaska and Crescent City (in Northern California) each got Tidal waves in the 1960's.

I posted the NOAA link in the first page for anyone interested in seeing more specifics. The page I posted is the Pacific warning center's site. It will have times for landfall until it hits.

[autoload]

At least Hawaii and the Pacific Rim coastal areas
have a few hours warning to evacuate.

A few hours will not be enough, as the only ways out are either by air or by sea. And the sea won't exactly be safe, so that leaves only flight, where some will be able to evacuate, but the vast majority will be stuck, whether they want to leave or not.

Actually, the open water is safest place to be. As long as you aren't close to land, the wave will pass right under you.

[PLAYER57832]

At least Hawaii and the Pacific Rim coastal areas
have a few hours warning to evacuate.

A few hours will not be enough, as the only ways out are either by air or by sea. And the sea won't exactly be safe, so that leaves only flight, where some will be able to evacuate, but the vast majority will be stuck, whether they want to leave or not.

Actually, the open water is safest place to be. As long as you aren't close to land, the wave will pass right under you.

True, a Tsunami is barely noticeable on the surface (just looks like a big but relatively calm wave). Its when it hits that there is danger.

[strike wolf]

Terrible for Chile...Good news is that it sounds like Hawaii should survive with minimum casualties.

[strike wolf]

Alaska is getting warnings. Alaska and Crescent City (in Northern California) each got Tidal waves in the 1960's.

I posted the NOAA link in the first page for anyone interested in seeing more specifics. The page I posted is the Pacific warning center's site. It will have times for landfall until it hits.

Alaska is very unlikely but possible. Like you said they have gotten tidal waves before however i believe the one you mentioned was from an earthquake much closer than this one. Due to distance and other factors I think they will most likely avoid it.

[PLAYER57832]

Alaska is getting warnings. Alaska and Crescent City (in Northern California) each got Tidal waves in the 1960's.

I posted the NOAA link in the first page for anyone interested in seeing more specifics. The page I posted is the Pacific warning center's site. It will have times for landfall until it hits.

Alaska is very unlikely but possible. Like you said they have gotten tidal waves before however i believe the one you mentioned was from an earthquake much closer than this one. Due to distance and other factors I think they will most likely avoid it.

True and it looks like you were correct. I was surprised when I saw they got warnings, but it looks like most of Coastal California was only "officially" on alert. No evacuations or anything (from what I heard... might be different on some islands and such).

[oVo]

It's true that the tsunami offshore and in the open ocean is a large swell
that emerges as a tidal wave once it hits the shallows near shore.

The source of tsunamis on USA and Canadian west coasts is typically earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions on the other side of the Pacific Ocean facing them...
Japan, Indonesia etc.

The epicenter of this quake was 30 miles off the coast of Chile or it would have been
even more devastating, yet it still damaged half a million homes and destroyed buildings,
roadways, city infrastructure and a whole lot more.

[Falkomagno]

8.8!!! That's an unbelievable strong earthquake. I think that the tsunami alert has to point to Japan mainly.

[Phatscotty]

Major Chili Quake....sounds delicious

[PLAYER57832]

The epicenter of this quake was 30 miles off the coast of Chile or it would have been
even more devastating, yet it still damaged half a million homes and destroyed buildings,
roadways, city infrastructure and a whole lot more.

Yes, I wondered that the damage was so light. That does explain it, in part.

That is, I went through the Loma Prieta Quake back in the late 90's and that was "just" a 7.3. !

[HapSmo19]

That was a 7.1 and it was 1989.

[PLAYER57832]

That was a 7.1 and it was 1989.

You are right. I am not old enough to have decades blurr together, but I am tired enough right now... lol

[HapSmo19]

Anyway, I was there for that one myself. It was plenty big enough

[oVo]

This is the 5th largest earthquake recorded since 1900
and even though it was centered offshore the effects
and damage inland is extensive.

[NotAConservative]

Wow, this looks really bad. There was a tsunami warning for the whole east coast of Aus thismorning and the beaches were evacuated but all is well as far as I know.