2015 Chile Earthquake
Illapel, Chile — September 16, 2015
The 2015 Illapel earthquake generated a tsunami with waves reaching 4.7 meters and triggered widespread evacuations along the Chilean coast and Pacific islands. Chile's modern warning systems performed effectively, contributing to a comparatively low death toll.
Earthquake Facts
Magnitude
M8.3
Date
Sep 16, 2015
Depth
22.44 km
Deaths
13
Latitude
-31.573°
Longitude
-71.674°
Tsunami
Yes
Region
Chile
Tectonic Cause
Subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate along the Chile Trench. The Coquimbo region sits above an active seismic gap that had not ruptured since 1943.
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.
Related Earthquakes in Chile
Sources & Further Reading
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