The recent one seismic activity that has affected the north of the country, added to earthquake occurred a few days ago in the Magallanes region, He has lit the alerts about Chile’s preparation status against futures earthquakes of great magnitude, especially in the central area.
During a television interview, the geographer Marcelo Lagos He addressed latent seismic risks, underlining the importance of reviewing how it is living with this constant threat. The central area of the country, where the main ports and high population density are concentrated, could face serious consequences in case of an earthquake followed by a tsunami, given the exhibition of critical infrastructure.
“The central Chile coast is where the main ports of this country are concentrated, therefore they are strategic. Before the important seismic threat and the consequent tsunamis, the central area of Chile has critical exposed elements that could make our country stagger a bit,” he explained in the MA’s morning.
One of the outstanding points was the prolonged period without a great telluric event in the vicinity of Santiago. The last registered dates from July 8, 1730, when an earthquake caused a tsunami that flooded the coastal plan and whose effects reached Japan. This event would have originated between Pichilemu and Los Vilos, which reinforces concern about the accumulation of energy in that area.
In addition, it was pointed out that the constant interaction between the Nazca and the South American plaque keeps the central area of the country in permanent tension. From the earthquake of February 27, 2010, which released energy from Pichilemu to the south, there has been no significant release towards the north of that line.
As for the magnitude that a future megaterremoto could reach, the models estimate that, in the worst scenario, This could approach a magnitude 9.
“It can be estimated, considering the width, long and time elapsed. In the worst scenario, the magnitudes can be close to 9 and that is very large, but that is the worst scenario and no one can say that it will be so,” he said.
This scenario has once again put the need to strengthen seismic culture and review the protocols for prevention, urban planning and education against natural disasters, especially in regions with greater vulnerability due to their population density and their strategic infrastructure.
