Chile is located on the western edge of South America and is part of the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, an area with intense seismic activity. Where the Nazca plate and the South American plate sink under the process known as subduction. Added to this is the horizontal movement of the Scotia plate with respect to the South American plate.
For this reason, statistics show that on average, in the last five centuries, an earthquake with a magnitude greater than 8 degrees Richter has been generated every 10 years, in some part of the national territory. For this reason, it is essential to be aware of the most recent earthquakes, actions that we can take today, as well as the measures of the Government of Chile in this regard.
Tremor in Chile today, June 16 LIVE – via CSN
In this note, we have real-time reports from the National Seismological Center (CSN) of the University of Chile, an entity that belongs to the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT) and has a network of seismographs distributed throughout throughout the country, which allow detecting and recording the seismic movements recorded today, Sunday, June 16, 2024, in the cities with the highest seismic index such as Sierra Gorda, Calama, Pica, Coquimbo, Atacama, Valparaíso, among other localities that make up the Chilean territory.
How can we prepare to be safe before an earthquake in Chile?
These are the recommendations provided by the Department of Emergency and Disaster Risk Management of Chile on seismic movements; The period in which earthquakes do not occur is a valuable time to prepare your family and your community to better face the occurrence of an event of this nature:
- If you are on the coast and the seismic movement made it difficult for you to stay on your feet, once the movement is over, use the marked evacuation routes found on public roads and go towards the tsunami safety zones located in high altitude areas.
- Check your physical condition, that of your family and those close to you. If there are injuries, provide help and only if necessary call or go to the emergency services.
- Cut off the gas supplies from the main shut-off valve and the electricity from the main switch or fuse, to prevent situations such as current shocks, short circuits, electrocutions, fires or explosions. Then go to a security area outside the property.
- Do not use candles, matches or other ignition sources such as electrical switches, or anything that could cause a fire or explosion in the event of a possible gas leak.
- If you have poor visibility, use flashlights. You must be careful when opening closets and furniture, the objects inside could fall on you.
- Evacuate to a safety zone outside the property if the place where you are is damaged by the earthquake.
- When evacuating a building, do so with caution through the stairwell or vertical safety zone, observing if any damage has occurred that poses a risk to people.
- Communicate with your family or important people through text messages, as they are more effective than phone calls that collapse. In addition, you will avoid moving from one place to another.
- Stay informed using a battery-operated radio, on AM or FM frequency, to receive instructions from the authorities and do not change the station.
- Keep your family plan activated, use your emergency kit, organize with your neighbors and help those who need it.
- Try to keep your cell phone on and if possible charge it, so that you maintain contact with what is happening. Remember that ONEMI alerts are given this way.
- If you must go to a meeting point, stay alert and pay attention to vehicles and weakened structures such as walls, poles, viaducts, bridges and objects that may fall on you during the journey.
- Check the security conditions of the property before returning. If you detect any level of damage, it is best to stay elsewhere until a specialized evaluation is performed.
