1960 Chilean Earthquake By

Ola Smith

Basic Info

Magnitude: 9.5Death toll: 3000-6000Injuries: 3000Damage: 130,000 homes destroyed, 2 million people displaced, total loss and damage was about $500 million (1960 valuation)

Fore and Aftershocks

When this earthquake occurred, seismic waves travelled all around the Earth. There were many fore and aftershocks in the main location of the earthquake, 9 of them with a magnitude over 7.0. This earthquake was so powerful, that it likely shifted the Earth’s axis and shortened the length of the day.

More Info

The epicentre was 100 miles off the coast of Chile and 60km below the ocean floor. The earthquake was a convergent one: the lighter continental South American Plate collided and rose over the heavier oceanic Nazca Plate.

Other Disasters Triggered

TsunamiThis tsunami occurred in Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, Eastern New Zealand, South East Australia and the Aleutian Islands. Huge waves that rose up to 25 metres were reported 10 minutes after the earthquake occurred. It killed at least 200 people in Chile, sank all the boats, and pushed on to half a kilometre inland.

Landslides and FloodsThis earthquake triggered a lot of landslides, especially in the glacial valley of the southern Andes. These landslides did not cause many fatalities and economical losses because these areas weren’t populated, but one landslide did cause destruction and alarm when it blocked the outflow of the Riñihue Lake, more specifically, the San Pedro River causing a flood. The water in Riñihue Lake stared to rise quickly, which meant that 4800 million cubic metres of water would release into the San Pedro River. The people swiftly took action. The nearby settlements were evacuated and several military units and hundreds of workers from electricity and industry companies started an effort to control the lake. This was called the Riñihuazo. 27 bulldozers were put into service, but it was difficult for them to move in the mud near the dams, so dykes had to be constructed by hand.

Volcano EruptionOn 24 May, 38 hours after the earthquake started, Cordón Caulle began to erupt. Since it was located between two unpopulated and isolated Andean valleys, there were few witnesses and the media didn’t take much interest in it since their attention was directed to the earthquake. A 5.5 km long fissure, where 21 individual vents have been found, seemed to be the cause of the eruption as the tremors travelled through it. On the 22nd July, the eruption finally ended.

Maps

Seismic Hazard Map

Valdivia

Earthquake Density Map

Valdivia

Damages

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