8.8 quake hits Chile, Tsunami waves expected

[mooby]

Huge quake hits Chile, sparks tsunami alert - Americas- msnbc.com

SANTIAGO, Chile - A devastating magnitude 8-8 earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, toppling homes, collapsing bridges and spawning a tsunami that threatened every nation around the Pacific Ocean — roughly a quarter of the globe.

President-elect Sebastian Pinera said more than 120 people died, but the death toll was rising quickly. Buildings were damaged in the capital Santiago, more than 200 miles away from theepicenter.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake struck 56 miles northeast of the city of Concepcion at a depth of 22 miles at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. ET).

Jessica Sigala, a geophysicist with the USGS told NBC News that the quake released 500 times more energy than the than the one that hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on January 12. The quake was felt in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is located more than 800 miles away.

Holy crap that's horrible. Let's hope the death toll won't go up in droves. And now they are expecting tsunami's all over the Pacific Ocean? That's even worse. I imagine if they are expecting them to reach everywhere from Russia to California than this thing must be packing some serious ass power.

[MTK]

wow that's a huge quake

[SmootSmack]

5th most powerful earthquake ever. Worst was also in Chile back in 1960

[Redskins_P]

I am half Chilean so this really hit me hard today. My wife and I both have family and friends down there that we've been trying to get in touch with. So far, I heard from my cousin in Santiago and she's ok. We're still waiting to hear from more peeps in Santiago, Viña del Mar, and Valparaiso. Please keep them in your prayers guys. Thanks.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Redskins_P

I am half Chilean so this really hit me hard today. My wife and I both have family and friends down there that we've been trying to get in touch with. So far, I heard from my cousin in Santiago and she's ok. We're still waiting to hear from more peeps in Santiago, Viña del Mar, and Valparaiso. Please keep them in your prayers guys. Thanks.

Best of luck to you and your peeps. An 8.8 quake is almost too huge to imagine.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by Redskins_P

I am half Chilean so this really hit me hard today. My wife and I both have family and friends down there that we've been trying to get in touch with. So far, I heard from my cousin in Santiago and she's ok. We're still waiting to hear from more peeps in Santiago, Viña del Mar, and Valparaiso. Please keep them in your prayers guys. Thanks.

Hope everyone is alright man.

[tryfuhl]

You know it's very humbling knowing that this is something so little for Earth that has such a huge impact. Just the plates shifting and settling can cause so much destruction and cause amazing changes in the oceans, as vast as they are.

[SmootSmack]

Crazy aftershocks

Three strong earthquakes strike Chile in quick succession - CNN.com

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Crazy aftershocks

Three strong earthquakes strike Chile in quick succession - CNN.com

If I lived there I would stand in a tree less meadow until I thought all was clear.