Santiago, Chile (CNN) — A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocked Chile early Saturday, killing at least 147 people and triggering tsunami warnings for the entire Pacific basin.
Warning sirens were sounded in Hawaii at 6 a.m. (11 a.m. ET), although any possible tsunami would not strike for several hours. Tsunamis can travel at 400 to 500 mph — the speed of a jet plane, said Georgia Tech geology professor Kurt Frankel.
A large wave killed three people and 10 were missing on the island of Juan Fernandez, 400 miles (643 km) off the coast of Chile, said Provincial Governor Ivan De La Maza.
On mainland Chile, the task of trying to save survivors and recover the dead was fully under way. Buildings lay in rubble, bridges and highway overpasses were toppled and roads buckled like rumpled paper. Mangled cars were strewn on several highways, many of the vehicles coming to rest on their roofs.
Interesting that the one woman interviewed says that the sky was changing colours.
Earthquake machines?
A tsunami is predicted as well as some thumper claiming a pact with the devil. Which will hit first?
Kittyburgers: Interesting that the one woman interviewed says that the sky was changing colours.
Probably from all the dust that got thrown up into the air.
Just send your cash….
Cue Pat Robertson to come on TV tomorrow and say something horrible about the evil Chilean people and how it’s their fault this earthquake happened. And Hannity & Beck will have a way figured out by Monday to blame it on Obama.
Pictures of the Tsunami damage from Hawaii are starting to roll in:
http://tinyurl.com/yjy9kn4
My in-laws are in Argentina. They could feel the quake from there.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, btw…
Great, another billion or so of my tax dollars will going to help another country.
Some people think overkill in Hawaii when it comes to tsunamis; I guess that’s better than nothing at all. But the media makes a mockery of the entire situation lately. I have family on the big island; they’re far from a tsunami… but a volcano is another story. I talked to my Aunt in Pahoa this evening. She said all was calm but she is a Buddhist. She could be on fire and would still be calm.
Its called HAARP people that’s what the machine is called!
Dude it was not a joke, I am from Chile and at least I could say that my country do not ignore a disaster. Do you remember the Katrina response? Well I do, how everybody on internet were screamming about been left alone by the federal government.
Thank god that after a HUGE earthquake like this we are still with here.
About the help, your country need something? we are good.
By the way, that image of Chile with the “center of the earthquake” is so wrong.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/290_-35.php
#14- Correct. The epicenter was reported to be off shore. That’s why there was a Tsunami. Inland, it wouldn’t have happened. And Hawaii didn’t see more than a few feet of swell (6 or less). So Japan probably got about the same. Doesn’t sound like anything they couldn’t handle.
Chile – not Iran. Adam was wrong, once again.
Chile is a real country with real building codes and real emergency services and people who won’t just sit and wait for a handout. They told the countries offering help they would try to deal with it alone, and wwould ask for help only if needed. My prayers are with them.
I like chillies.
And if China gets one in the next month, look for Turkey to get the one after that.
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Our thoughts and prayers go with the people of Chile. I hope we can help.
Regarding building codes: If the New Madrid Seismic Zone were to come alive, how prepared would Memphis be for a major earthquake?