Specialists warn about a possible mega-earthquake in Chile

Specialists warn of a possible mega-earthquake in Chile The logical experiences that human beings go through in relation to the tremors that occur in different parts of the Earth make their fragility in the face of the uncontrollable forces of nature palpable. Indeed, in just a few minutes, earthquakes unleash a devastating energy that leaves behind a field of debris. But an earthquake rarely comes alone: the friction of tectonic plates and the consequent seismic activity often also trigger tsunamis and sometimes even volcanic eruptions. These days, different specialists are warning about a seismic movement of great intensity that could occur in the northern territory of Chile and could even affect provinces in northern Argentina, such as Salta and Jujuy. Additionally, many Latin American countries are frequently shaken by earthquakes, and measurements indicate that in the last three weeks both Chile and Nicaragua have been affected by strong earthquakes. A group of Chilean scientists has alerted to the possibility of a mega-earthquake in northern Chile, based on the unusual seismic activity observed in the area during 2024, although they did not provide a precise date. Although a seismic swarm is not in itself a definitive prediction of a mega-earthquake, it can be a warning sign that scientists consider to assess the risk of a major event occurring. The tragedy caused by an earthquake is a subject of constant study by global specialists, and in the Andes mountain range, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) inaugurated a seismological observatory in Chile, with a network of European and American scientific institutions monitoring activity in the Andean country and in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Bernd Schurr, technical coordinator of the IPOC, explained that in the case of Chile, the Nazca oceanic plate sinks below the South American continental plate. In the contact zone, there is friction and a zone of resistance where energy accumulates. As a result, when the resistance is overcome, the unleashed energy causes earthquakes. According to the expert, every 100 to 150 years, tectonic segments several hundred kilometers long break. In the last hundred years, along the Chilean coast, all tectonic segments broke at least once, resulting in strong earthquakes with a magnitude between 8 and 9. This occurred along the entire coast, except in the northern part of the country, approximately between the border with Peru and the port city of Antofagasta, where the last major earthquake took place in 1877, almost 150 years ago. Therefore, it is estimated that a strong earthquake is very likely to originate in that region. The research distinguishes the types of earthquakes that exist in the country, beyond their magnitude, location, and depth. According to academic Sergio Ruiz, mega-earthquakes are so large that they break the entire contact zone, while earthquakes of approximately Mw 8.0 only break a part of that zone, which has implications for the generation of tsunamis. A recent study led by the academic from the Department of Geophysics at the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Sergio Ruiz, concluded that there are earthquakes and mega-earthquakes in Chile. Mega-earthquakes, such as Valdivia 1960 or El Maule 2010, are so large that they break the entire contact zone, which can generate huge regional tsunamis. Another highlighted aspect in the research is the average frequency of occurrence of these mega-earthquakes, which is two per century throughout Chile. Although earthquakes cannot be predicted, it is noted that in the area ranging from the south of Antofagasta to Taltal, there is no historical seismic information in Chile of mega-earthquakes since the last one occurred in 1922. Potentially, a giant earthquake can occur anywhere in Chile, and it is important to consider these risks for disaster preparedness and prevention.