5.9 magnitude earthquake in Pichilemu, Chile revives fears of new tragedy

Monday, May 3, 2010

Another strong aftershock hit Chile early Sunday morning. The aftershock reached a magnitude of 5.9 with the epicenter located nineteen kilometers west of Pichilemu, according to the University of Chile Geological Survey (UCGS).

The UCGS has also reported that the quake reached a depth of 30.1 kilometers and that the intensities in the Mercalli scale were: Pichilemu, Navidad and Talca: VI; Rancagua, Santa Cruz, Lolol and San Fernando: V; Casablanca, San Antonio and Santo Domingo: IV; La Calera, La Ligua, Limache, Los Andes, Papudo, Petorca, Quillota, Santiago de Chile, Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: III.

However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that it reached a magnitude of 5.8; had a depth of 8,5 kilometers; and that the epicenter was located 65 kilometers at the southwest of San Antonio, Valparaíso; 100 kilometers at the west of Rancagua, O'Higgins 105 kilometers at the northwest of Curicó, Maule and; 135 kilometers at the southwest of Santiago, Metropolitan Region.

ONEMI (National Emergencies Office), reported that Talca, located 258 kilometers south of Santiago, was the city where the aftershock was felt the strongest. Pablo Marín of ONEMI told TV Chile no casualties were reported and only some telephone lines had collapsed.

More than eight aftershocks hit the area, has reported the University of Chile Geological Survey. On Sunday:

at the 14:52:31 local time (18:52:31 UTC), magnitude 3.3, reached a depth of 15 kilometers with epicenter three kilometers at the northwest of Pichilemu;
at 15:22:57 (19:22:57 UTC), magnitude 4.3, had a depth of 32.6 kilometers with the epicenter nineteen kilometers northwest of Pichilemu;
at 15:46:29 (19:46:29 UTC), magnitude 4.7, with a depth of 29.7 kilometers, the epicenter was located fifteen kilometers north of Pichilemu;
at 16:02:46 (20:02:46 UTC), magnitude 3.7, with a depth of 30.7 kilometers and the epicenter was located ten kilometers northwest of Pichilemu.

On Monday:

at 02:21:45 (06:21:45 UTC), magnitude 3.9, with a depth of 15.5 kilometers and the epicenter was located 2 kilometers east of Pichilemu;
at 02:33:28 (06:33:28 UTC), magnitude 4.6, with a depth of 15 kilometers and epicenter located 16 kilometers northwest of Pichilemu;
at 02:49:25 (06:49:25 UTC), magnitude 5, had a depth of 9.2 kilometers and epicenter 16 kilometers northwest of Pichilemu;
and at 11:43:35 (15:43:35 UTC), magnitude 3.6, depth of 28.7 kilometers and epicenter located 11 kilometers north of Pichilemu.

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Sources

"5.9 Pichilemu" — University of Chile, May 2, 2010 (Spanish)
"5.8 Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins" — United States Geological Survey, May 2, 2010
"Sismo de 5.9 grados en Chile" — El Nuevo Día, May 2, 2010 (Spanish)
"Seis sismos se han percibido este domingo en el sector de Pichilemu" — La Tercera, May 2, 2010 (Spanish)

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