Mother Earth is Going to Bang Those Tectonic Plates Off The Wall!, At least in Chile.
Chile holds the record when it comes to earthquakes. Frequent and furious earthquakes are very common in the southern American country. Its almost a way of life. A way that poses a huge threat to the Chilean and global population.
The most destructive earthquake ever recorded in world history was in Chile. A 9.5 Magnitude quake that left about two million homeless and killed 1,655 people. The “ Valdivia “ or Great Chilean Earthquake ripped through the town of Lumaco and the city of Valdivia in the spring of 1960.
It caused tsunamis that destroyed the country’s coastline. Then continued to Japan, New Zealand, Australia and clobbered Hilo Hawaii with waves over 80 tall. Because it was such a widespread disaster the total death toll and amount of property damage can only be estimated.
On February, 2010 Chile saw another massive Quake. This one hit the coastal area of Bio Bio and El Maule. The earthquake lasted almost 3 minutes causing more massive Tsunamis. Some of it hit California with minor damage reports, Japan on the other hand was smacked hard. Demolishing Japan’s coast resulting in over 6 billion dollars in damage. Don’t forget that nuclear meltdown that resulted.
The 2010 quake is also suspected for more turmoil over 3000 miles away. Antarctica and its ancient frozen landscape with gigantic glaciers fell victim. Cracking and ripping through all it could.
Chile happens to be situated on the tip of the South American and Nazca plates. The Nazca plate is the younger of the tectonics, cracking off of a larger plate 23 million years ago. Its now pinned up against
the massive South American plate. The tension between these two plate is a time bomb.
Scientist predict a never ending cycle in Chile. Every 111 years its due for a huge quake. That huge quake should relieve the pending tectonic stress for the next 111 years. Than the cycle starts all over again.
April 2014 another Earthquake hit of the coast of chile. It was a powerful 8.2 magnitude quake that caused more tsunamis, landslides and destruction. Although its too early to guess, the predicted price of this one is over 100 million dollars and killed 6 people.
The last earthquake was not enough seismologists say. It didn’t relieve the tension that has been built up the past hundred years. The accumulated stress in the “Subduction Zone” will result in more small quakes or another huge event.
