Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes and millions more were put on alert yesterday as a tsunami rolled menacingly across the Pacific following a massive earthquake in Chile. The quake, which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale, has so far killed at least 200 people and triggered a tidal wave that threatens countries spread over almost half the world. In island nations throughout the Pacific, residents fled to higher ground as warnings were sounded and experts claimed the tsunami could strike anywhere across the vast region. The earthquake hit during the early hours, destroying homes and hospitals, sweeping away bridges and sending terrified residents living in the Chilean city Concepcion, which was nearest to the epicentre, rushing into the streets. President Michelle Bachelet declared a ‘state of catastrophe’ and warned that the death toll is likely to rise. Last night, it was reported that the tidal wave had already inflicted serious damage in the Juan Fernandez Islands, 400 miles off the Chilean coast. Guillermo de la Maza, director of ONEMI, Chile’s national emergency agency, said a series of 10ft waves had wiped out 1.8 miles of coastline on the remote island Robinson Crusoe, leaving three people dead and four more missing. On Easter Island, whose ancient Polynesian statues are a World Heritage Site, many of the 5,000 inhabitants were evacuated from coastal areas to higher ground. (Daily Mail)Sunday 28 February 2010
Tsunami warning for half the world: Tidal wave fear as huge earthquake kills 150 in South America
Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes and millions more were put on alert yesterday as a tsunami rolled menacingly across the Pacific following a massive earthquake in Chile. The quake, which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale, has so far killed at least 200 people and triggered a tidal wave that threatens countries spread over almost half the world. In island nations throughout the Pacific, residents fled to higher ground as warnings were sounded and experts claimed the tsunami could strike anywhere across the vast region. The earthquake hit during the early hours, destroying homes and hospitals, sweeping away bridges and sending terrified residents living in the Chilean city Concepcion, which was nearest to the epicentre, rushing into the streets. President Michelle Bachelet declared a ‘state of catastrophe’ and warned that the death toll is likely to rise. Last night, it was reported that the tidal wave had already inflicted serious damage in the Juan Fernandez Islands, 400 miles off the Chilean coast. Guillermo de la Maza, director of ONEMI, Chile’s national emergency agency, said a series of 10ft waves had wiped out 1.8 miles of coastline on the remote island Robinson Crusoe, leaving three people dead and four more missing. On Easter Island, whose ancient Polynesian statues are a World Heritage Site, many of the 5,000 inhabitants were evacuated from coastal areas to higher ground. (Daily Mail)