Two areas in Chile were hit by 8.2 earthquakes on Tuesday and were declared disaster areas. Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuate, but around six people are estimated to have lost their lives. There are also reports that 300 inmates from a women's prison have escaped as a result of the quake. Additional tsunami warnings have been made in both Ecuador and Peru.
The government of Chile instructed people living near the disaster to evacuate the disaster zones and immediately huge traffic jams were formed in all major roads. However, the government reported that the atmosphere was relatively calm and the people were not panicking.
The U.S. Geological Survey announced that the quake was shallow, around 6.2 miles below seabed. This would cause the shock of the quake to feel much greater on the surface. Tsunami warnings have been have been delivered by the government, for a quake of this magnitude could certainly start a tsunami that could be destructive. It is estimated that waves as high as almost 2 meters could strike the coastal town of Pisagua.
Chile has experienced another earthquake of similar magnitude in 2010, as it is one of the world's most seismically active countries. The earthquake on Tuesday happened only several days after the 5.1 earthquake and a series of smaller quakes in Los Angeles.
