Chile Earthquake of 1960 - Essay Example

Victor Hernandez Thomas E. Graham World history 1112 11/19/201 Chile Earthquake of 1960 The earthquake of 22nd May 1960 remains as the largest seismic incident that has ever been recorded in the world history. The main earthquake of 22 May 1960 was preceded by foreshocks; on Saturday of 21 May, southern Chile was hit by a series of earthquakes, the greatest recorded that day was a magnitude of 7.5, “whose foci lie within a band 1,300 km long, between latitudes 37deg and 48 deg S”.1 The main earthquake generated a devastating tsunami after 20 minutes that not only struck by the Chilean coast, but also affected countries as far as Japan, New Zealand, and Russia. The study of this event becomes even more important after 8.8 moment magnitude Chilean earthquake of 27th February 2010. During earthquake in 1960s geography of Chilean south changed, islands appeared and disappeared, sea level changed, river’s openings shifted, volcano erupted and large landslides dammed rivers. These changes occur with a passage of time, however, Chilean earthquake made it happen in no time.2The greatest earthquakes of them struck at around 160 kilometers off the Chile’s coast and paralleled to Valdivia city. Though some researchers argue that it may have been 9.6 or 9.4, it is evident that the shock was up to 9.5 magnitudes. The day before this earthquake, a series of foreshocks warned for incipient disaster. The major demolition in conception (the day before of Valdivia’s earthquake) was a result of magnitude 7.9. The source of fault-displacement of the earthquake covered over approximately 560-520 miles (900-1,000km) area of Nazca Plate subducted underneath South American Plate.3 Other sources published the magnitude to be approximately 9.5, but all have shown its origin from a point in the southern coast of Chile. Although there have been huge number of strong earthquakes inside Chile and all around the world, but 22nd May left the world in shock and dismay. I argue that Valdivia’s was the strongest earthquake ever recorded, due to its magnitude (9.5), huge level of destructions, aftershocks, tsunamis, wide range of impact, damage caused in distant countries, geographical changes, and various social and psychological consequences. Chile, in general, and Valdivia, in particular witnessed the world’s most shocking natural disaster. “On the early morning of May 21st at 4.03 (local time), an earthquake of 7.5 Richter magnitude was followed by a series of aftershocks in Concepcion and Arauco. The four largest of these aftershocks occurred during the next day and has magnitude of 6.5, 7.5, 7.8, and 7.5 respectively. Aftershocks were recorded to propagate from the hypocenter up to Chiloe”.4 It is considered to be “the largest earthquake ever measured occurred in coastal Chile north of a small marsh in the Valdivia River Estuary, where the trace of the 9.5 M1, quake occurred in 1960.”5The quake is referred to be the Great Chilean Earthquake because it is the largest that has ever been recorded in the history. Following this massive earthquake, a tsunami hit Chile and neighboring countries including Japan, Hawaii, Philippines, southeast Australia, and eastern New Zealand.6 Quite shockingly, the main earthquake was the sum of two major events that amounted to an earthquake of moment magnitude Mw 9.5.The use of such magnitude started to measure larger earthquakes, because prior magnitudes, such as, local magnitudes ML, body magnitudes Mb and surface wave magnitudes Ms had reached their limit. Such limit is called as saturation where all of these are saturated around 8.The moment magnitude has no saturation point because there is a function of parameters present along the fault rupture, such as, amount of slip, rupture area, and material rupture along the fault.7Unfortunately, there are no acceleration records for this earthquake; however, Weischet estimated approximately 0.25g and 0.3g according to Mercalli intensity of X. However, these values are not certain.8 During 21st May and 6th June 1960, Chile went through a series of terrible earthquakes, but the record breaking massive earthquake struck on Sunday, 22nd May 1960. The epicenter was identified 570 kilometers south of Santiago, near Lumaco. Though the closest city was Temuco, heavier damages were experienced by Valdivia.9The immensity of the shifts of the seafloor influenced the tsunamis size. Approximately 15 hours later, the waves that arrived in the islands of Hawaiian, that is located 6,200 miles away, crested about 35feet at landfall in particular places.10Most of the Chilean cities, including Puerto Montt, a noticeable subsidence happened. In Valdivia, almost half of the buildings were declared uninhabitable due to great damage they sustained. Even though the destruction caused by the shaking was not minor, most casualties resulted from 15 minutes later descent that rose up to 25 meters (80 feet) high on the Chilean coastline expanse. Puerto Aisen and Lebu cities bound it. The cities are also parallel to the subduction process of plate.11 Approximately 25 meter high waves clobbered the Chilean coastline during earthquake. These waves ran across and devastated the pacific and Hilo and Hawaii. At even 10,000 miles from epicenter, the waves were recorded 10.7 meters high, and struck as far away as Philippines and Japan.12 The subsequent aftershocks and earthquake created landslides that killed many persons. The toll on the casualties was never reported accurately for the region. Approximately, the casualties ranged from 490 to 6,000 with no distinction of how many deaths were as a result of tsunami waves and those caused by earthquakes. Tsunamis caused most fatalities, and earthquakes caused most property damage. For example, Valparaiso city, a city of 200,000 people, many buildings were demolished.13 Three thousand people were reportedly injured and 717 missing in Chile. Chilean government officials estimated 2 million people to have been left homeless. 130,000 houses were demolished, one in every three, in the quake. Different estimates of the total fatalities toll from the tsunamis and earthquake have been published, with another source estimating 6,000 dead and United States Geological Survey having 5,700 killed. The number of casualties and monetary losses that rose from the widespread disaster is not accurate, but estimated to be US$ 400 million to 800 million. In addition, there were other geologic phenomena associated with the tsunami and earthquake. There were extensive subsidence reported, altering the local flooding and the shoreline. Landslides and rock fall in the Andes created a lake on the Rio San Pedro. On 24t May, 1960, there was Puyehue volcano eruption.14According to estimates, monetary loss was approximately $500 million.1525 meters tsunami waves flooded coastal towns and cities damaging the whole infrastructure, railway system, bridges, telecommunication system, electricity and water supply system.16 This tsunami caused highest causality rate and property loss in Chile and other countries in the Pacific basin.17Valdivia and Puerto Montt were the most heavily damaged cities due to highest intensity X to XI on Mercalli scale.18 Chile is located on the South American Plate and adjacent to the Nazca Plate and the Antarctic Plate, therefore, it is referred as the Pacific Ring of Fire. 1960’s seismic event was a result of the release of mechanical stress between sub-ducting Nazca Plate and the South America Plate.19 The mega-thrust quake was originated from South American Plate, Nazca Plate, and Peru-Chile Trench. At about 33 km, it wasn’t as deep as most earthquakes in this are, at about 70km.There have been other quakes with closer size, but nothing beat this quake. Alarmingly, some geologists believe that this record sized tremor will be surpassed by another quake.20 The devastating earthquake also caused an equally destructive tsunami that spread out in the whole Pacific Ocean and affected large parts of Chile, Hawaii, Japan, and Philippines.21 It is one of the very few earthquakes that caused severe damage to distant locations. Tsunami triggered by earthquake reached across the Pacific Ocean with 200 miles per hour speed, and overall change in sea level was recorded all around the Pacific Ocean basin. After fifteen hours of earthquake, 35 feet ruined coastal areas of Hawaii. 61 people were reported to be killed by waves near Hilo, Hawaii. In California, several small boats and coastline was damaged by the waves. Island of Honshu, in Japan was struck by more than 18 feet high waves after 22 hours of the earthquake. It smashed more than 1600 homes and left 185 dead or missing. In addition, 32 people were dead in Philippines after 24 hours of earthquake. Easter Island and Samoa were also damaged.22 More than 400,000 square kilometers of Chile experienced the impact of this massive shock. Several villages on the coast completely disappeared, such as, Tolten. On the center port of Valdivia, water rise 13 feet before it started receding again. Within a short time after the quake, a 26 foot high wave hit Chilean coastline, and shortly after, another 33 foot wave was recorded to race along the coast. Most of the population died even before the tsunami waves reached the land. A ship, Canelos was thrown about 1.5 kilometers from its original location where it sank. The mask of this ship is still visible from the road to Niebla. In addition to tsunami, the quake caused serious landslides.23 In Corral Bay and Valdivia River several vessels were destroyed due to the earthquake, among them being Carlos, Haverbeck, Canelos, Melita and the remnants salvages of Penco. When the quake struck, Canelos was anchored at Corral filling a cargo of wood and other things destined to North Chile. The Canelos engine was warmed up for events viewing. After drifting hours around Valdivia River and Corral Bay, the wrecked ship was abandoned by its crew at 18.00 PM. Two people who on board died. Another ship anchored at corral, Santiago, managed to leave at the time of the quake though in a bad state. It was wrecked off the shores of Mocha Island on May 24.24 La Milagrosa, the schooner, departed from Quele to Fitzroya wood shingles in a small port in southern Corral, to load a cargo in May 22. The ship was wrecked by currents and tsunami waves for four days while it was shipping towards the south. Outside Corral, six minors were rescued on board of two boats. They were dehydrated and unconscious. The boats found were for navigation in Corral Bay and Valdivia River but had drifted towards the high sea. Following the earthquake, a more than one meter seiche was seen on Panguili Lake. On May 22, a seiche was also observed in Nahuel Huapi Lake, on the side of Argentina of Andes, more than 200 kilometers away from Valdivia. Earthquake-triggered sediment slide produced a wave at the lake bottom that killed two individuals and demolished San Carlos de Bariloche city pier.25 The disaster would have flooded violently on the settlements on the affected areas with less than five hours if the dam suddenly burst.100, 000 people lives were in danger and so efforts were made to evacuate Valdivia and many individuals left. To avoid city destruction, various military units, many workers from CORFO, ENDESA and MOP began the efforts to manage the lake.26 Thirty-eight hours after the main shock, 28 may, in Valdivia; Cordon Caulle started a rhyodacitic fissure eruption. The eruption had few eye witnesses due to its sparsely populated and isolated in Andean valleys, hence, fewer media attention. The eruption spread to 5.5kilometer long and N135 degrees trending fissure where 21 people vents have been discovered. The vents created an output of nearly 0.25km3 both inform of tephra and lava flows. The eruption stopped on 22 July.27After two days of the main quake, a volcano near the Puyehue volcano also erupted. The causalities were not high because the population of area was already low. About 40 percent of houses in Valdivia were demolished and 20,000 people became homeless. The homes built without any earthquake support were just crumbled. In comparison, wooden houses held better. The most important city bridge was demolished and was never built again. As a result of quake’s horror, some city blocks were not occupied again until the early 2000s.28 During the earthquake in Chile, west of Tralcan Mountain landslides blocked the Rinihue Lake outflow. Rinihue Lake is the lowest lakes chains among the seven that receives a constant inflow from River Enco. The blocked river, which drains the lake, goes through several towns before it reaches the Valdivia city near the coast. Due to San Pedro River blockage, the level of Lake Rinihue water rose to approximately 20 million cubic meters. Therefore, 4,800 million cubic meters of water was released to River San Pedro, easily overpowering its capacity to flow in 400 cubic meters per second.29 The earthquake and tsunami was so terrifying that it triggered the Dark Age tradition of human sacrifice in coastal village of Collileufu. It became a Time magazine story that people sacrificed a five-year-old boy in an effort to calm the earth and ocean. Collileafu was an isolated village, when they watch tsunami and wrath of earth and ocean, their chief ‘machi’ ordered to sacrifice an orphan boy, named Jose Luis Painecur. The two men who killed the boy were arrested, but released after two years on court orders. The judge justified their release by saying that they were “driven by an irresistible natural force of ancestral tradition.”30 As a result of the quake, most of old colonial Spanish fortifications with all of its valuable history were pulverized. With the forceful jolt of quake, the rivers deepened and wetland was created. Infrastructure and water and sewage system in Valdivia was completely destroyed.31 The earthquake destroyed farms, killed livestock, barns and industrial structures. Dairy industry was one of the very few that received subsidies and government investment through a long-term policy after the earthquake. It is said that death toll of 5,700 people is overestimated, and the real number of deaths were 1500-1700.Low death toll of this devastating earthquake was low because of earthquake resistant buildings, in addition to the fact that huge earthquake occurred in the middle of the afternoon after a series of foreshocks that made people aware. However, most sources reported a higher death toll. The reason that made this earthquake most devastating is the damage it caused in Chile and other countries. The concurrent tsunami led to 61 deaths, Japan faced 138 deaths and $50 million damage, $75 million damage in Hawaii; 32 dead and missing people in Philippines; and $500,000 damage to west coast United States.32 Chilean economy went through a great recession with per capita decline by 8 percent during 1959. It recovered during 1960 with a per capita GDP growth of 6 percent. Economic growth declined to 2 percent in 1961 to 1963 after the earthquake, and second phase of recession started during 1964-65.Though the accurate cost of the disaster is unknown, but it is estimated to be approximately $550 million. In an effort to compensate and repair the damages, Chile government invested $292.6 million, in addition to $136.4 million as aid from other countries.33 After the Valdivia earthquake in 1960, the government formed a committee to solve issues caused by earthquakes. It continued to perform, to improve national approach on emergencies. It was named ONEMI (National Emergency and Information Office) in 1974, and the law authorized it as an independent government office.34 The office coordinates the work of rescuing in the areas hit by earthquakes, assist reconstruction and resume order. The central government can react quickly through the office when confronted with catastrophe, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. The constitution of the country also has fundamental laws that describe the responsibilities and roles of the central government in dealing with events of catastrophe. The laws of the local government also set out rules and duties of local officials upon dealing with disasters. In 2002, Chile introduced a plan that describes concrete measures local and central governments should take in each phase of dealing with a disaster.35 Chile in a state of ruins was supported by foreign governments to get back on track. With their economy, homes, businesses and crops destroyed, people needed temporary shelters, food supplies and medical treatment for the many that were injured. Canada was at forefront as it aided in delivery of relief foods to South America in the affected regions. It offered military aircrafts that were used to supply tones of relief food and social amenities like blankets and beddings to destinations like Santiago, Puerto Montt and Victoria (National Defense and Canadian Forces). These aircrafts flew several trips in days after the tsunami and volcanic eruption, ensuring that people accessed the basic amenities they required. Others helped move stuck people from unsafe zones on their trip back and helped moved medical supplies to affected zones, and medical equipment needed in Victoria hospital. The United States government provided mobile hospitals staffed with doctors and nurses for medical services to residents.36 In addition, International technological cooperation program was started in the dairy sector. More specifically, Danish and the German governments assisted in the creation of Centro Tecnologico de la Leche in the South of the University of Chile. Erik Dahmen believes that the earthquake happened to be the creative destruction for Southern Chile farmers.37 During 21st May and 6th June 1960, Chile went through a series of terrible earthquakes, all devastating, but the record breaking massive earthquake struck on Sunday, 22nd May 1960.It caused massive amount of direct damages in the form of over 6000 causalities, injured, 2 million homeless people, demolished infrastructure, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and geographical changes. The epicenter of the greatest earthquake was around 570 kilometers near Lumaco, south of Santiago, making Valdivia the most affected city. Therefore, the earthquake is called the Great Chilean earthquake or Valdivia earthquake. Some researchers believe that it was a 9.6 or 9.4 magnitude eaarthquake; however, it is evident that the shock was up to 9.5 magnitudes. The day before this earthquake, a series of foreshocks warned for incipient disaster. There is significant amount of evidence that reports the magnitude to be approximately 9.5, and all have shown its origin from a point in the southern coast of Chile. Throughout the world history, there have been massive earthquakes in Chile and all around the world, but Valdivia’s earthquake was the strongest ever recorded, huge level of destructions, tsunamis, and the range of impact, geographical changes, and other devastating consequences. Moreover, the earthquake itself and resulting tsunami affected other countries, such as, Japan, New Zealand, and Russia. There is no doubt that, Valdivia’s earthquake was the strongest this planet has ever seen. Besides the destruction it caused, the 22nd May earthquake has changed Chile and Valdivia on the map of the world forever. Bibliography Kanamori, Hiroo. “The energy released in great earthquakes.” Journal of Geophysics Research 82,no.20(1977): 2981-2987. 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Earthquake.usgs.gov. 2009-10-14. Retrieved 2012-06-11. Parshall, Ardis E. “El Gran Terremoto de Valdivia.” keepapitchinin.org. 6 April 2009. Web. 18 September 2014. http://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/04/06/mormon-missionaries-and-el-gran-terremoto-de-valdivia-1960/. Thompson, Jerry. Cascadias Fault. Berkeley, CA: Counterpoint, 2011. Print. U.S Geological Survey “The largest Earthquake in the World- Articles”. Archived from the original on 7th January. 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2014. Baker, Kevin, “The worst world disasters of all time.”Retrived from www.ebookit.com USGS. “Historic Earthquakes Chile 1960 May 22 19:11:14 UTC Magnitude 9.5: The Largest Earthquake in the World.” usgs.gov, 1 November 2012. Web. 18 September 2014. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22_articles.php. Tobias,Asti and Chris Lee. “Eearthquakes and Volcano (MEDC’S & LEDC’S)”astichris.weebly.com. Accesses 26 November 2014. http://astichris.weebly.com/1960-valdivia-earthquake-chile.html. Cisternas, Marco et al., “Predecessors of the giant 1960 Chile earthquake.” Nature, 437(2005): pp. 404-407. Martin, Duke. “The Chilean Earthquakes of May 1960.” Science, New Series, 132.3442(1960): pp. 1797-1802. Plafker, G. and Savage, J.,“Mechanism of the Chilean Earthquakes of May 21 and 22, 1960.” Geological Society of America Bulletin, 81(1970):pp. 1001-1030 Read More