Huge 8.8-magnitude quake hits Chile – USGS, Reuters, July 27, 2010, by Alonso Solo and Doina Chiacu, excerpt quoted verbatim:

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) – A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck near the coast of south-central Chile early on Saturday, shaking buildings and causing blackouts in parts of the capital Santiago, 200 miles away.

A tsunami warning was issued for Chile and Peru by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and a tsunami watch was issued for Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Antarctica.

Soon after, the U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had generated a tsunami that may have been destructive along the Chilean coast near the epicenter.

The USGS said the earthquake struck 56 miles northeast of the city of Concepcion at a depth of 34 miles at 3:34 a.m./1:34 EST. Its magnitude was initially reported at 8.3 then 8.5.

An earthquake of magnitude 8 or over is classified as a “great” earthquake that can cause “tremendous damage,” according to the USGS website. The earthquake that devastated Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on January 12 was rated at magnitude 7.0.

According to a 2002 census, Concepcion is one of the largest cities in Chile with a population of around 670,000. The quake knocked out power in nearby coastal areas.

People streamed onto the streets of the Chilean capital, more than 200 miles north of the epicenter, hugging each other and crying, a Reuters witness reported. Buildings shook and there were blackouts in parts of the city.

The Reuters witness reported very strong shaking lasting for 10 to 30 seconds.

A national emergency official told local radio the government was evaluating damage in and around Concepcion.

Read the full article, here.

NOTE by Evans Politics owner Paul Evans: The Interior Minister of Chile says that the death toll is not expected to rise significantly from current count of 82 after the earthquake. This could have been a lot worse, folks.

See 8.8-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Central Chile, AP in The New York Times, February 27, 2010 by the Associated Press.

Read the Tsunami Arrival Times of the numerous tsunamis which headed out to sea and will strike all over the Pacific.

See Chile earthquake: Easter Island evacuation as tsunami brings disaster to Pacific islands, Telegraph.co.uk, February 27, 2010 by Fiona Govan.

See Evacuation Zone Maps, NOAA, Pacific Tsumami Warning Center. Tsunami Safety & Preparedness in Hawaiʻi.

See Tsunami Arrival Times and Warnings for the coast of North America, including California.

Watch MSNBC Live Converage of the earthquake and tsunamis.

UPDATE: This disaster, as per the video above, seems to have brought out the best in the Chilean government and people. The final death toll is expected to be a few to several hundred. More on the tsunamis later, although we really want to get back to the political news (and to be honest, the music videos and informational videos which are now an increasing part of the new format of Evans Politics.

earthquake.usgs.gov