M8.2 Tsunami

2014 Chile Earthquake

Iquique, Chile — April 1, 2014

The 2014 Iquique earthquake occurred in a region identified as a major seismic gap — an area that had not experienced a major earthquake since 1877. The earthquake prompted widespread evacuations and generated a tsunami, though Chile's emergency systems performed well.

Earthquake Facts

Magnitude

M8.2

Date

Apr 1, 2014

Depth

25 km

Deaths

6

Latitude

-19.610°

Longitude

-70.769°

Tsunami

Yes

Region

Chile

Tectonic Cause

Megathrust earthquake at the convergent boundary where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate. Seismologists had long predicted a major event in this segment.

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.

Sources & Further Reading

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