Chilean quake rattles La Paz
A 7.9 magntitude quake struck northern Chile this evening at 22:44 GMT. The epicenter, about 250 miles southwest of La Paz, is a mountainous region far from the coast so tsunami activity is not anticipated. Reuters reports one death in Chile as the result of a landslide triggered by the quake, and widespread damage. (The rest of the world's media seems to be too interested in Michael Jackson's acquittal this afternoon to pay much attention.)
Chile's National Office of Emergency Services (ONEMI) has declared a red alert for the region. The country's vice president and various ministers have been dispatched to the affected area by Air Force aircraft. A second plane is flying 15 tons of shelter supplies to interior locations in the region. ONEMI reports at least one casualty, 80-year-old Dionisio Pérez, who was crushed in his home, and numerous others injured.
Tectonic activity is relatively common in this region where the Pacific's Nazca plate subducts beneath the South American plate. The last major event in this region, June 23, 2001, was centered off the coast of Arequipa in southern Peru and caused a tremendous amount of damage, destroying 80% of the homes and most of the infrastructure in that region. Most of the agricultural systems in that area were also ruined as a consequence of the accompanying tsunami. That quake measured 8.1 and was recorded as far away as Japan.
Here in La Paz, no one with whom I've spoken felt the quake. Because I live on the 11th floor of my apt building, it was quite noticeable. Preliminary estimates of the quake's magnitude here in Bolivia are around 3 to 3.5. Although I've had my share of ground shaking experiences in California, this is the first I've experienced in a high-rise building: not fun.
Earlier today, a 5.6 magnitude quake struck about 200 miles southwest of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. I've been able to find no reports on this event, however.
Chile's National Office of Emergency Services (ONEMI) has declared a red alert for the region. The country's vice president and various ministers have been dispatched to the affected area by Air Force aircraft. A second plane is flying 15 tons of shelter supplies to interior locations in the region. ONEMI reports at least one casualty, 80-year-old Dionisio Pérez, who was crushed in his home, and numerous others injured.
Tectonic activity is relatively common in this region where the Pacific's Nazca plate subducts beneath the South American plate. The last major event in this region, June 23, 2001, was centered off the coast of Arequipa in southern Peru and caused a tremendous amount of damage, destroying 80% of the homes and most of the infrastructure in that region. Most of the agricultural systems in that area were also ruined as a consequence of the accompanying tsunami. That quake measured 8.1 and was recorded as far away as Japan.
Here in La Paz, no one with whom I've spoken felt the quake. Because I live on the 11th floor of my apt building, it was quite noticeable. Preliminary estimates of the quake's magnitude here in Bolivia are around 3 to 3.5. Although I've had my share of ground shaking experiences in California, this is the first I've experienced in a high-rise building: not fun.
Earlier today, a 5.6 magnitude quake struck about 200 miles southwest of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. I've been able to find no reports on this event, however.
2 Comments:
I knew about it before my friends in Santiago did, and they were VERY scared when I told them what had just happened. But when I told them where, not so much. And far be it from a Chilean to make a joke about Bolivia on any occassion! The general response to its being so close to Bolivia was, "Wow, God really hates them this month."
I very much like the head-photo on your blog. Especially the face of the old woman at the right, it's so expressive.
Also, it's so rare (at least for me) a quake in La Paz. I can't imagine.
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