A magnitude eight earthquake struck off the coast of Tarapaca, Chile early this afternoon, New Zealand Daylight Time.
Tuesday 2nd April, 2014
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck 95 km north-west of Iquique, Chile at 12:47 this afternoon, New Zealand daylight time. The undersea quake was shallow, at a depth of 20 km according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Geoscience Australia reports the event as magnitude 8.2 at a depth of 10 km. It estimates that the quake would have caused damage up to 330 km from the epicentre which includes parts of the Chilean and Peruvian coastline near the earthquake epicentre, and western parts of Bolivia. Geoscience Australia estimates that the quake would have been felt up to 4100 km from the epicentre, which includes the entire South American continent.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, which reported the quake as magnitude 8.2 at a depth of 10 km, has issued three bulletins for the event; noting that tsunami waves of 2.11 metres were recorded at Iquique Chile, 1.73 metres at Pisagua Chile, and 1.51 metres at Patache Chile. Waves of 0.93 metres were recorded at Arica Chile and 0.53 metres at Matarani Peru.
The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has assessed the event and advised that “the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand.”
Just to keep us all on our toes!