The Chilean Tsunami Of 1960: The Day That Was Washed Away
“When I saw the wave, I thought I was dreaming; I wish I was” is what so many unfortunate people were thinking May 22, 1960. The Chilean tsunami was a tragic day where so many lives were lost. This tsunami was one of the worst disasters in history and many who survived are still traumatized to this day.
Science
A tsunami happens when tectonic plates converge after earthquakes, landslides on the seafloor, large volcanic eruptions, or a meteorite crash on the ocean floor. In this case, the tsunami was caused by an earthquake.
When the earth’s tectonic plates move and grind against each other, energy builds up. There are three phases to a tsunami: the generation, the propagation, and
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On May 22, 1960, at 9:11 GMT, an earthquake occurred off the coast of South Central Chile, triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami that had a surface-wave magnitude of 8.6, an epicenter of 39.5° S, 74.5° W, and a focal depth of 33 km. May 22 was a day to remember for the people who survived and had to live with the pain forever
The tsunami generated in southern Chile and affected Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, eastern New Zealand, Southeast Australia, and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The first waves were less than half a meter high, but three hours later, many oscillations of about 1.5 meters occurred. The source of this earthquake in 1960 extended over a distance of about 1,100 kilometers along the southern Chilean coast. Seismic sea waves excited by the earthquake caused death and destruction in Hawaii, Japan, and the Pacific Coast of the United States.
In southern Chile, approximately 1,655 lives were lost; 3,000 people were injured; 2,000,000 people were left homeless; and $550 million worth was damaged. In Hawaii, this tsunami caused 61 deaths and 75 million dollars of damage. In Japan, the tsunami caused 138 deaths and 50 million dollars in damages. 32 people are dead or missing in the Philippines. And 500,000 dollars of damage to the west coast of the United