M8.8 Tsunami

2010 Chile Earthquake

Maule Region, Chile — February 27, 2010

The 2010 Chile earthquake struck off the coast of the Maule region and generated a tsunami that reached Hawaii. It was the fifth largest earthquake ever recorded at the time, causing widespread damage across central Chile and prompting a Pacific-wide tsunami warning.

Earthquake Facts

Magnitude

M8.8

Date

Feb 27, 2010

Depth

22.9 km

Deaths

525

Latitude

-36.122°

Longitude

-72.898°

Tsunami

Yes

Region

Chile

Tectonic Cause

Megathrust event on the Chile Trench subduction zone. The same segment had last ruptured in the 1835 earthquake documented by Charles Darwin.

Aftermath in Pictures

Photos from Wikimedia Commons — open licenses (CC / Public Domain)

Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under open licenses. Attribution required where specified. Click any image to enlarge.

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