Massive deadly earthquake near Illapel (Coquimbo coast), Chile - at least 16 people killed - Pacific Ocean tsunami

September 16, 2015 by


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Damage report in cooperation with the 2015 Earthquake Impact Database
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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
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Update September 19 14:16 UTC : The image below is the slip model of the earthquake showing also the aftershocks. The black areas are very locked areas or areas accumulating stress and capable of generating massive earthquakes. People living in these areas are prone to very dangerous earthquakes and should make sure that their house and belongings are earthquake safe (image via @cppgeophysics)

Screen Shot 2015-09-19 at 11.59.55

Update September 19 14:16 UTC : Another update from volunteer Carlos Robles
Argentina:
Buenos Aires: 1 (INDIRECT) DEATH. A 50 year old man fell from the stairs while evacuating.
Mendoza: 2 homes collapsed in Las Heras, 2 homes collapsed in Tunuyan, 76 reports of homes damaged, 2 hospitals damaged and 12 schools damaged.
San Juan (Province): 1 damaged church, 1 damaged school, 5 "compromised" homes in Chimbera (1 had to be evacuated), 1 collapsed roof in a home in Chimbas (no injuries), Ceilling fell in a supermarket in San Juan, Unknown number of places with cracks.

Chile (area further away from the epicenter)
General situation as reported by ONEMI Chile : 13 people dead and 11 injured; 262 homes collapsed, 418 homes uninhabitable with major damage; 14,139 households without power and 9,070 households without drinking water.
O'Higgins Region:
* Power outages in various locations including Mostazal, Doñihue, Las Cabras, Guacargue and El Huique.
(City) Doñihue:
* 2 homes were slightly damaged.

Update September 19 07:15 UTC : The death toll has gone up to 13, while the number of missing people stands at six Source: Chilean Deputy Interior Secretary Mahmud Aleuy said.

Update 19:09 UTC : The number of fatalities has unfortunately increased to 11

Update 16:01 UTC :

Update 15:55 UTC : A post Tsunami picture from Telemundo62.cl

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 17.55.07

Update 13:59 UTC :

Update 13:51 UTC : Some more footage of the heavy shaking

Update 10:43 UTC : 467 families have sustained damage and informed the authorities about it

Update 10:33 UTC : Carlos Robles, our Mexican volunteer compiled the situation in various locations.

Argentina:
-Buenos Aires: People auto-evacuated buildings and universities.
-Rosario: One maternity hospital was briefly evacuated.
-San Rafael: Phone communications were overwhelmed and collapsed.
-Catamarca: One monument suffered a crack.

Chile:
Region of Los Rios:
* 1,500 people evacuated from costal regions,
* Max. sea variation of 20 c.m.
* School suspended.

Region of Araucania:
- Coastal regions:
* 6,000 people evacuated, * School suspended.
- (CITY) Temuco:
* Power outages affected 750 people., Gas stations were emptied, School suspended.
- (CITY) Tolten:
* 52 families in shelters.

Region of Bio Bio:
Coastal regions: School suspended.

Finally Carlos complied the available VIDEOS of the Chile earthquake

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

MunicipalityCanela

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)

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 05.03.30

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 03.56.56

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.

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 03.43.52

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 03.14.30

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 03.01.14

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.51.24

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.47.02

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.

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.34.16

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.32.13

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.27.28

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)

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.18.48

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.14.52

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.12.00

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.06.33 Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.06.43 Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 02.06.57
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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 01.34.52

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 01.30.43

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 01.26.42

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 01.19.53

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.

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 01.17.02

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.

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 01.07.48

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

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 8.2

Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2015-09-16 19:54:30

GMT/UTC Time : 2015-09-16 22:54:30

Depth (Hypocenter) : 29 km

Depth and Magnitude updates in the list below.

Share your earthquake experience (I Have Felt It) with our readers.
Click on the "I Felt It" button behind the corresponding earthquake. Your earthquake experience is not only important for science, but also for people in the area as well as our global readership.

Refresh this list
SRC Location UTC Date/time M D INFO
EMSC Offshore Coquimbo, Chile Sep 16 23:38 5.8 54 MAP
GEOFON Near Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 23:38 5.8 25 MAP I Felt It INFO
USGS Illapel, Chile Sep 16 23:38 5.7 35 MAP
GEOFON Near Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 23:18 7.0 25 MAP I Felt It INFO
EMSC Coquimbo, Chile Sep 16 23:18 7.0 40 MAP
USGS Illapel, Chile Sep 16 23:18 7.0 30 MAP
EMSC Offshore Coquimbo, Chile Sep 16 23:16 5.8 2 MAP
GEOFON Near Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 23:16 5.8 48 MAP
USGS Illapel, Chile Sep 16 23:16 6.2 10 MAP
USGS Illapel, Chile Sep 16 23:03 6.1 10 MAP
EMSC Offshore Coquimbo, Chile Sep 16 23:03 6.1 40 MAP
PTWC Sep 16 23:01 7.9 0 MAP
EMSC Offshore Coquimbo, Chile Sep 16 22:59 6.4 22 MAP
USGS Illapel, Chile Sep 16 22:59 6.4 21 MAP
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP I Felt It INFO
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP
WCATWC Off Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 9 MAP
WCATWC Near Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:55 8.3 12 MAP
  • Concepcion - We are on the 5th floor and the building started swaying back and forth.
  • Córdoba Capital - Me empece a sentir mareado hasta que vi que los muebles se movian mucho. Duro casi 1 minuto.
  • Santiago - First aftershock just hit. This earthquake was strong and sustained. Looking for info on damage. I live in apartment on fifth floor. Some things knocked to ground.
  • Santiago - Went on for about 2 mins, deep rumbling, strongest we have had for a long while
  • Santiago - Very long, my four earthquake.
  • Santiago - Building shaking Experienced from the 7th floor 😁
  • Jesús María, Argentina - I don't know whether to call it light shaking or moderate shaking, but it was looooong and sustained, and pretty scary, but more headache-inducing than terrifying (although they're never not-scary). We're aways away from Chile, so I can only imagine what they went through...I hate earthquakes.
  • Santiago - Some cracks in thé wall.
  • Providencia - No damage at all here; little noise but very strong and protracted undulating skaking
  • Cordoba, Argentina - have no knowledge of damage
  • Bohemia, NY - I was standing on pavement in a parking lot when I felt the ground shaking beneath my feet very lightly. I had no idea at first what the heck it could be. Then I realized it was an earthquake happening somewhere else. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was in Chile. It went on for about four and a half seconds.
  • Viña del Mar - Felt strongly! The only damage: a lage grandfather clock fell flat on its face, and now is in many pieces
    		•
    USGS Illapel, Chile Sep 16 22:54 8.3 25 MAP
    EMSC Offshore Coquimbo, Chile Sep 16 22:54 8.2 20 MAP
    GEOFON Near Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:54 8.2 29 MAP I Felt It INFO
    USGS Illapel, Chile Sep 16 22:54 7.9 33 MAP
    WCATWC Near Coast Of Central Chile Sep 16 22:54 7.9 33 MAP

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    SHARE YOUR EARTHQUAKE EXPERIENCE WITH US

    I felt the shaking *
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    City/Village where you felt the earthquake *
    Street or suburb (area) where you felt the earthquake
    Latitude (area) where you felt the earthquake
    Longitude (area) where you felt the earthquake
    Shaking Strength *
    MMI II (Very weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors or favorably placed.
    MMI III (Weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt indoors; hanging objects may swing, vibration similar to passing of light trucks, duration may be estimated, may not be recognized as an earthquake.
    MMI IV (Light shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally noticed indoors but not outside. Light sleepers may be awakened. Vibration may be likened to the passing of heavy traffic, or to the jolt of a heavy object falling or striking the building.
    Fittings :
    Doors and windows rattle. Glassware and crockery rattle. Liquids in open vessels may be slightly disturbed. Standing motorcars may rock.
    Structures :
    Walls and frames of buildings, and partitions and suspended ceilings in commercial buildings, may be heard to creak.
    MMI V (Moderate shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally felt outside, and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers awakened. A few people alarmed.
    Fittings :
    Small unstable objects are displaced or upset. Some glassware and crockery may be broken. Hanging pictures knock against the wall. Open doors may swing. Cupboard doors secured by magnetic catches may open. Pendulum clocks stop, start, or change rate.
    Structures :
    Some large display windows cracked. A few earthenware toilet fixtures cracked.
    MMI VI (Strong shaking) ?
    People Felt by all. People and animals alarmed. Many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily.
    Fittings :
    Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall from walls. Some furniture moved on smooth floors, some unsecured free-standing fireplaces moved. Glassware and crockery broken. Very unstable furniture overturned. Small church and school bells ring. Appliances move on bench or table tops. Filing cabinets or "easy glide" drawers may open (or shut).
    Structures :
    Slight damage to buildings with low standard. Some stucco or cement plaster falls. Large display windows broken. Damage to a few weak domestic chimneys, some may fall.
    Environment :
    Trees and bushes shake, or are heard to rustle. Loose material may be dislodged from sloping ground, e.g. existing slides, talus slopes, shingle slides.
    MMI VII (Very strong shaking) ?
    People
    General alarm. Difficulty experienced in standing. Noticed by motorcar drivers who may stop.
    Fittings :
    Large bells ring. Furniture moves on smooth floors, may move on carpeted floors. Substantial damage to fragile contents of buildings.
    Structures :
    Unreinforced stone and brick walls cracked. Low standard buildings cracked with some minor masonry falls. A few instances of damage to buildings of ordinary workmanship. Unbraced parapets, unbraced brick gables, and architectural ornaments fall. Roofing tiles, especially ridge tiles may be dislodged. Many unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, often falling from roof-line. Water tanks Type I burst. A few instances of damage to brick veneers and plaster or cement-based linings. Unrestrained water cylinders (hot-water cylinders) may move and leak. Some common windows cracked. Suspended ceilings damaged.
    Environment :
    Water made turbid by stirred up mud. Small slides such as falls of sand and gravel banks, and small rock-falls from steep slopes and cuttings. Instances of settlement of unconsolidated or wet, or weak soils. Some fine cracks appear in sloping ground. A few instances of liquefaction (i.e. small water and sand ejections).
    MMI VIII (Severe shaking) ?
    People Alarm may approach panic. Steering of motorcars greatly affected. Structures : Low standard buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. ordinary workmanship buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged in some cases. A few instances of damage to buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes. Monuments and pre-1976 elevated tanks and factory stacks twisted or brought down. Some pre-1965 infill masonry panels damaged. A few post-1980 brick veneers damaged. Decayed timber piles of houses damaged. Houses not secured to foundations may move. Most unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, some below roof-line, many brought down. Environment : Cracks appear on steep slopes and in wet ground. Small to moderate slides in roadside cuttings and unsupported excavations. Small water and sand ejections and localized lateral spreading adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    MMI IX (Violent shaking) ?
    Structures Many low standard buildings destroyed. Ordinary workmanship buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes damaged in some cases, some with flexible frames seriously damaged. Damage or permanent distortion to some buildings and bridges, designed and built to normal use standards. Houses not secured to foundations shifted off. Brick veneers fall and expose frames. Environment : Cracking of ground conspicuous. Landsliding general on steep slopes. Liquefaction effects intensified and more widespread, with large lateral spreading and flow sliding adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    Tell us your experience and how many seconds the shaking lasted + let us know if your property has been damaged (even slight damage). (max. 500 characters)
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