The Chile earthquake happened on the 27th of February 2010, at 3:34 am local time. Chile. The quake hit 325 kilometres southwest of the capital, Santiago, off the coast of Concepcion, at a depth of 35 kilometres.
During the 2.5 hours following the 90 second quake, there were reportedly 11 aftershocks, 5 of which were about 6.0M or above.
The quake had already killed 214 people, and without doubt, the death toll will continue to rise. Parts of the city were experiencing power outages. Telephone and power lines went down, making it almost impossible to assess the full extent of the damage and loss of life. The deadly earthquake caused a huge wave that reached the populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands off the Chilean coast. Tsunami warnings had been issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands. The quake also downed buildings and houses in Santiago, crushing people beneath them.
During the 2.5 hours following the 90 second quake, there were reportedly 11 aftershocks, 5 of which were about 6.0M or above.
The quake had already killed 214 people, and without doubt, the death toll will continue to rise. Parts of the city were experiencing power outages. Telephone and power lines went down, making it almost impossible to assess the full extent of the damage and loss of life. The deadly earthquake caused a huge wave that reached the populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands off the Chilean coast. Tsunami warnings had been issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands. The quake also downed buildings and houses in Santiago, crushing people beneath them.
The earthquake is charactized by a thrust-faulting focal mechanism, caused by the suduction of the Nazca plate under the South America. Its magnitude was reported to be between 8.3 and 8.5M and now it has since been upgraded to a possible 8.8M.
The government has dispatched three emergencies response teams to costal areas.
My reflections:
I think that installing piles underneath the buildings will help to minimize damage from earthqukes. Piles are columns that reach down through soft earth to hard ground further down. Standing on soled foundations, the building is less likely to collapse when there is an earthquake.
They should also install shock absorbers as the cross braces reduce vibration in the steel beams that support the building.
They also can build earthquake-resistant building. It can withstand most earthquakes. Its simple shape stops it from twisting when the ground shakes. It is made of reinforced concrete and steel as these materials are most resistant to tremors.
The government has dispatched three emergencies response teams to costal areas.
My reflections:
I think that installing piles underneath the buildings will help to minimize damage from earthqukes. Piles are columns that reach down through soft earth to hard ground further down. Standing on soled foundations, the building is less likely to collapse when there is an earthquake.
They should also install shock absorbers as the cross braces reduce vibration in the steel beams that support the building.
They also can build earthquake-resistant building. It can withstand most earthquakes. Its simple shape stops it from twisting when the ground shakes. It is made of reinforced concrete and steel as these materials are most resistant to tremors.
Reported by,
Juline Han
Bibliography
Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100227/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_chile_earthquake, extracted on 27-02-2010
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake, extracted on 27-02-2010
Alexei Barrionuevo
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/world/americas/28chile.html, extracted on 27-02-2010
Discovery Box (2006) Issue 81, Discovery Box,
United Kingdom
Bibliography
Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100227/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_chile_earthquake, extracted on 27-02-2010
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake, extracted on 27-02-2010
Alexei Barrionuevo
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/world/americas/28chile.html, extracted on 27-02-2010
Discovery Box (2006) Issue 81, Discovery Box,
United Kingdom
Jose Luis Saavedra
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61Q0S920100227 extracted on 28-02-2010
