Chile's 7.9 Earthquake Upgraded to 8.3 Magnitude

by Benson Agoha | Natural Disaster

A powerful earthquake shook Chile's capital, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets and several strong aftershocks hit within minutes; authorities issued a tsunami alert for the country's entire coast.

* Credit: via ABC News

But at 8.3, the quake is stronger than the 7.3 magnitude quake which caused nuclear fears when Japan's Fukushima Nuclear plant was damaged after high winds poured rising seawater into it. It is also bigger than the Northridge in California which was (6.7), bigger than he Nepali earthquake (7.8) as well as Philippines earthquake (7.6) magnitude.

This is however, not the first time Chile is hit by huge earthquake. In recent years, 2010, a magnitude-8.8 quake resulted in a tsunami in south-central Chile, killing more than 500 people, destroyed 220,000 homes, and washed away docks, river fronts and seaside resorts.

A Chilean native told the media he was in a Santiago bar when it hit. The shaking was powerful, but more worrisome was how long it lasted, he said.

President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, addressed the nation and said "Once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature."

Claudio Moreno said: "We went out in the street when we felt it was going on too long," he said. "It was more than a minute."

Waves of up to 4.5m high was reported in some parts of Chile as tsunami warning is issued for Peru, Chile, New Zealand, California and Hawaii.

People shouted and scrambled to find their way through dark passages outside as buildings shook and rocked violently.

According tot he Guadian aftershocks are still occuring, with one, a magnitude of 4.7 occurring  near General Santos, Mindanao, Philippines some 50 minutes ago, according to a Google public alert.

There have been approximately 15 other aftershocks since the first earthquake struck Chile, the locations for which can be viewed on this map.