Dangerous earthquake Coquimbo coast, Chile - at least 5 people killed - Pacific tsunami..

 

Last update: September 17, 2015 at 6:03 am by By Armand Vervaeck and James Daniell

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Download our summary report here:- DOWNLOAD - CEDIM - Report 1 - Chile EarthquakeTsunami - 17092015 0530, NB: new modelling in French Polynesia - ca. 1-3m

Update 04:20 UTC : Some pictures of damage from Municipality of Canela showing landslides and damage.

Update 04:20 UTC : A M6.7 aftershock has occurred. This is quite normal for such an event, with at least 1 aftershock of up to M7.5 expected after an event of M8.3-8.4 usually.

Update 04:00 UTC : The tsunami alert has been cancelled for Los Lagos, Aysen, Magallanes.

Update 03:50 UTC : At least 5 people have been confirmed dead from the earthquake and tsunami.

Update 03:45 UTC : CATDAT theoretical modelling (rapid earthquake loss estimation) indicates a fatality estimate of 6 (with a range of 0 deaths to 20). Let us hope it is towards the bottom end. The economic losses are estimated to be ca. $50m USD (a range of $12m-$176m).

Update 03:24 UTC : It has been confirmed that the main highway is out at various locations (Highway Elqui (Los Vilos-La Serena) ) - Km 550 and Km 535 - take care when driving!

Update 03:04 UTC : Final update for Coquimbo tide gage, good illustration that 1st wave does not have to be biggest & tsunami last hours (source jashapolet)

Update 02:24 UTC : Limari reports 2 more fatalities.

Update 02:14 UTC : The Tsunami alert has ONLY been canceled in the Southernmost part of the country

Important update 02:08 UTC  : The authorities at Illapel have reported that 1 woman was killed, 7 people were injured (3 seriously)

Update 01:57 UTC : Updated NOAA pacific ocean tsunami map

Update 01:42 UTC : People living in most areas of the Pacific should consult their local authorities to find out what to do when. The tsunami is widespread along the Pacific ocean. Below the latest PWTC tsunami bulletin.

Update 01:38 UTC : Continuous aftershocks are being felt in the epicenter area and beyond, the strongest ones at the moment  M5.4

Update 01:19 UTC : What a mess, a lot of cleaning is waiting tomorrow

Update 01:15 UTC : Update Coquimbo tide gage : appears that largest tsunami wave (4+ m) arrived more than one hour after initial wave

Important update 01:04 UTC : Unfortunately we have to report that 1 person was killed. The tsunami alert is still maintained.

Update 00:55 UTC : As could be expected after such a massive earthquake, many aftershocks have been registered since the mainshock, the strongest one being a M6.4

Update 00:51 UTC : Power is still present in the Central Zone of Chile. People are waiting on high grounds until the tsunami alert will be canceled, which can take several hours

Update 00:48 UTC : The picture below has been taken in the coastal city of Concòn, located in the Valparaiso area. Coastal streets have been inundated by the tsunami waves

Update 00:40 UTC : Serious damage has been reported in a shopping mall in La Serena North of Coquimbo

Update 00:34 UTC : A HAWAII tsunami watch is in effect. Below the table of the measured heights of the tsunami waves in Chile. The waves in the Coquimbo area (the location of the epicenter)  have been 3 meter, Valparaiso area 1.6 meter and the rest of the coast less than 1 meter.
Below also the travel times of potential waves over the pacific ocean.

Update 00:28 UTC : As the Magnitude of the earthquake was recalculated as 8.3, we note that also the Tsunami potential was increased to a max. swell of 2.7 meter which is very high. The calculations are theoretical calculations. New GDACS map below

Update 00:19 UTC : Below the (tsunami typical) focal mechanism of this earthquake. Easiest to understand is that the heavier oceanic Nazca plate (P part) did move to the east below the South American plate (T part)

Update 00:16 UTC : Professor Max Wyss, who specializes in theoretical prognoses of injuries and fatalities expects : 10 to 100 fatalities and 100 to 1000 injured. So far no news of any injured or fatalities. Let's hope it remains like that.

Update 00:15 UTC : A tsunami evacuation area

Update 00:12 UTC : Illapel is a city with 30,000 inhabitants

Update 00:10 UTC : The Illapel area is currently without electricity

Update 00:07 UTC : Based on the calculations of USGS, 23000 people have endured a severe shaking and 391000 a very strong shaking. Illapel is the hardest hit city with a MMI VII very strong shaking

Update 23:40 UTC : Damage is currently reported in Illapel mainly at adobe houses (old style houses)

Update 23:35 UTC :  SNAM Chile has called a Tsunami alert for a number of regions

Update 23:31 UTC : People out in the streets of Santiago

Update 23:27 UTC : Contrary to the expectations of the PWTC, GDACS expects tsunami waves up to 1.7 meter

Update 23:23 UTC : The earthquake was felt in many countries to the East and North of Chile

Update 23:17 UTC : We have to revise our expectations as the theoretical shaking comes in as very dangerous. The max. shaking is listed as MMI VIII = severe shaking which normally generates a lot of damage. The cities most affected will be Illapel and Los Vilos.

Update 23:15 UTC : The PWTC (Pacific Ocean) Tsunami bureau has NOT called a widespread tsunami alert. A local tsunami's is always possible.

Update 23:12 UTC : At first sight we expect some damage of course at this Magnitude and depth but the epicenter is luckily near a rather unpopulated area + the epicenter is also below the ocean which weakens somewhat the shaking.

71km (44mi) WNW of Illapel, Chile
93km (58mi) WNW of Salamanca, Chile
120km (75mi) SSW of Ovalle, Chile
123km (76mi) NNW of La Ligua, Chile
246km (153mi) NNW of Santiago, Chile