M8.1 OFFSHORE TARAPACA, CHILE on April 1st 2014 at 23:46 UTC

Last update: 3 April 2014 at 10:48 UTC

Earthquake details | Aftershocks locations
Comments posted by the witnesses | Send us pictures or videos | Epicenter location

Earthquake details

On April 1^st, 2014, a M8.1 earthquake struck northern Chile, at 20:46 (local time) off the coast of Tarapaca region about 100km NW of Iquique, killing 5 people and displacing around 80,000. Damages and fires have been reported throughout the region and many have lost power because of the quake (source: Reuters). More information on the main shock is available here.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said a tsunami measuring almost two meters had been generated.

If you have experienced this earthquake, you are invited to answer the online questionnaire. Your testimony will be useful to update the Intensity map here below, where intensities correspond to the effects of the earthquake. You can also read the comments posted by people who experienced this event or view them on the interactive map here below.

In 2010, a M8.8 earthquake hit the region of Maule, in central Chile. In 1960, the largest earthquake on record, a M9.5 earthquake, struck southern Chile.

An earthquake sequence which started in January 2014

This mega earthquake follows an earthquake sequence in the region which started in January 2014 and increased since the M6.7 earthquake of March 16^th. From January 1^stuntil April 3^nd there have been 9 M6+, 64 M5+ and 244 M4+ earthquakes recorded in this region.

(click to enlarge)

Figure: Earthquake sequence in Tarapaca region since March 15th, 2014. (Courtesy of Stephen Hicks - Liverpool Earth Observatory - University of Liverpool)

The Iquique gap

Figure: The Iquique gap illustrated and explained (Source: IRIS Teachable Moments)

Aftershocks locations

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Epicenter location

Main Shock Epicenter Location

Past Regional Seismicity as from the ISC catalogue (1964-2004) and EMSC Real Time catalogue (2005-today)

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