A very strong earthquake rumbled offshore of Maule, Chile, early thismorning. According to USGS, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck around 3:30 a.m.(1:30 ET). The earthquake generated a tsunami, and tsunami warnings are inplace across much of the Pacific.
The center of the earthquake is near a highly populated area of Chile. Theepicenter of the earthquake was 60 miles NNW of Chillan, Chile, 65 miles WSW ofTalca, Chile, 70 miles NNE of Concepcion, Chile, and 200 miles SW of Santiago,Chile. Santiago is the capital of Chile. Concepcion is the second largest cityin Chile with a population of 200,000.
According to the Chilean President, at least 50 people were killed and thedeath toll is expected to rise.
The earthquake was felt as far away as Buenos Aires, nearly one thousand milesaway from the quake's center.
There have been several aftershocks in the hours following the initialearthquake, with magnitudes ranging from 5.2 to 6.9.
A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire coast of Chile, Peru, Ecuador,Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, and Hawaii. In fact, much of the Pacific was putunder tsunami warnings.
A tsunami was generated along the Chilean coast within an hour of theearthquake. The tsunami height was highest in Valparaiso, Chile, reaching aheight of 8.7 feet. The second largest height was 6.3 feet in Talcahuano,Chile. According to Expert Senior Global Meteorologist Jim Andrews, a tsunamiwould take around 15-20 hours (from the time of the earthquake) to reach Japanand about half of that time to reach Hawaii.
Earthquakes are not uncommon in Chile. In fact, the largest earthquake everrecorded in the world --a magnitude 9.5 earthquake --struck the country in Mayof 1960. That devastating earthquake claimed the lives of 1,655 people,according to CNN.com.
There should be no weather-related problems for clean up in the area shaken bythe earthquake in Chile. Warm and dry conditions are expected to last for thenext several days.
Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans.
