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Chile Earthquake

IntheNet

IntheNet

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 6, 2009
190
0
Just awoke to news of horror in Chile from earthquake/warnings of tsunami for Pacific areas... prayers for the residents...

Pacific under tsunami threat after massive 8.8 quake strikes Chile
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/27/chile.quake/index.html?hpt=T1
(CNN) -- A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocked Chile early Saturday, killing at least 78 people and triggering tsunami warnings for the entire Pacific basin.
 
I think you better get a second look at that thread title.

But wow, 8.8 is pretty huge. It's a good thing the Pacific has a tsunami system set up.
 
Quite scary, although thankfully kidney bean free.

As always happens with these events expect that death toll to rapidly climb. 8.8 is going to have caused quite a few mortalities unfortunately.
 
Tsunami advisory on the west coast where I am. I'm not worried.

Hawaii, is another matter. Supposedly they're preparing for some waves coming their way but I can't find any info on when it's supposed to hit or if it already did.

Edit: The first waves were expected at 11:19 a.m. Saturday (4:19 p.m. EST; 2119 GMT)
 
Apparently Hilo Bay, because of the way it's contoured, is expected to amplify the waves. So if its 8ft there, they're expecting smaller waves elsewhere in Hawaii. Though - note that *all* sides of the islands are threatened.

I'm in on the British Columbia coast. Nothing wakes you up in the morning, as you're lolling about in bed listening the radio like hearing "The BC South Coast is under a tsunami advisory."

It's only expected to be 30cm or less here, so nothing to worry about. However - we're expecting a call from my sister-in-law in Ontario. Her daughter is hoping to get accepted into a marine biology course in Bamfield, BC - right on the Pacific. Until now I doubt she's ever paid much attention to Pacific tsunamis.

Hopefully Chile is not too badly hit. Its early yet, but they have lots of experience with earthquakes so perhaps there isn't too much loss of life.
 
Peace said:
Wonder if their gonna update that for Oregon too.

Here's the arrival times for the West coast.

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2010/02/27/725245/09/webeta725245-09.txt
Click to expand...

Whoa! i'm worried for Santa Monica, San Pedro, and Newport beach.....b/c that's where i live closeby....and my school too....

I have seen the "The Weather Channel App" for iPhone...

and my ipod says 6 warnings.

including a Tsunami Warning for all of California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

Whatever the case is, everybody has to be ready b/c mother nature is very unpredictable.:rolleyes:
 
SactoGuy18 said:
But it that eight foot wave lasts like a hurricane storm surge, the damage will be HUGE. I'd leave Waikiki Beach right now for way higher ground!
Click to expand...
MSNBC is saying 2- to 7-foot waves. I don't know if a 2-foot wave is enough to knock over smaller structures, but a 7-foot wave sure is.

This is going to be eerie. Rarely if ever do we get several hours' notice of impending disaster. Cameras will be set up to capture it as it happens, I'm sure. I imagine most people will be around their TVs at 4 pm. It's going to be one of those moments of shared humanity. :(
 
Keep in mind those 2-8 ft. waves are above and beyond the normal waves. That and the tsunami waves tend to travel inland and carry debris along with it.

Going inland to higher elevations is highly recommended for almost all of Hawaii.
 
GNS Geonet project director Ken Gledhill said the Chile quake was the fifth largest quake the world had seen since 1900.
Click to expand...

They are saying this is the biggest tsunami warning in history.

Roger Bilham, a professor of geological sciences at the University of Colorado, said the waves were racing across the Pacific Ocean at 720km/h.

"Mid-ocean, the wave is travelling at around the speed of a jet plane," he said.
Click to expand...
 
People people people....

What happened in Chile is huge, and is a catastrophe there. And is continuing to be hit with aftershocks.

But lets keep this in perspective as far as North America is concerned ...

So far the largest waves recorded on the California coast has been 2.2 ft (.66m). The navigation buoys in Ventura harbour have been damaged. I don't think this qualifies as "devastation", widespread or locally.

The skating events at the Vancouver Olympics are happening in the city of Richmond, that sits below sea level. They haven't cancelled any events. Its not a big deal.

So be careful, stay out of the water....
 
I hope all of those "look at me" celebrities/singers are going to organize another telethon and or release another version of We Are the World for the people of Chile. Why would they be any different then the people in Haiti?
 
mac88 said:
I hope all of those "look at me" celebrities/singers are going to organize another telethon and or release another version of We Are the World for the people of Chile. Why would they be any different then the people in Haiti?
Click to expand...

You know because god forbid celebrities try and use their notoriety to help people in desperate need.

Statements like this absolutely boggle my mind.

Oh and Haiti is a devastatingly poor country, Chile has had its problems in the past, but it is most definitely not on the same level as Haiti in terms of need.

The # of fatalities coming out of Chile speaks for itself, Haiti was astronomically worse.

That being said, we should help Chile as much as we possibly can.
 
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