MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Tsunami scare stampede in Chile kills one

A false alarm about an imminent tsunami approaching the southern coast of Chile which developed into an early Monday morning panic causing the death of a woman and several injured was described by the country“ Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza as a ”macabre joke”.

Mr. Insulza who is acting Chilean president since Mr. Ricardo Lagos is in an overseas visit of Africa and Asia, said the authorities haven't so far established the origin of the rumour and its tragic consequences.

The false alarm at 02:00 hours Monday morning in Chile's second city Concepción and neighbouring towns panicked 12,000 people who fled their homes in whatever vehicle they could catch for higher ground.

Apparently the tsunami warning began when a group of unidentified fishermen reported seeing uncommon sea and tidal movements which sparked into a general panic and chaotic situation.

In the midst of the chaos and anxiety, Maria del Rosario Bayar Echeverria, 68, had a heart attack and died while she was fleeing inland in a car with her family. Radio reports said that the massive flight to the hills led to several traffic accidents and panic attacks among various people, as well as minor injuries - generally from falls - to at least 50 people who were later given first aid in Concepción's hospital.

The National Emergency Office - ONEMI - later confirmed, however, that it was all a false alarm and categorically denied that there was any risk of a tsunami.

"This is absolutely false; there is no sign of a tidal wave. We have checked all the alert centres that we have, as well as with the Navy and the coastal government authorities, and there is absolutely nothing. It's a situation of total and complete normality" ONEMI chief in Bio Bio, Jaime Romero repeated in several radio interviews.

"For a tsunami a 7,5 points Ritcher scale earth quake must occur in Chile or some area close to the country", indicated Juan Cayupi another scientist from ONEMI.

Mr. Cayupi did reveal that a 6,6 magnitude seism did happen at 17:00 hours in Micronesia, close to Australia, which "could have sparked the tsunami rumour among an over sensitive population that has been intoxicated with information about the Asian disaster".

The ONAMI expert added that at the most "some tidal changes could effectively happen in areas close to the seism epicentre".

But in spite of the Chilean authorities efforts several thousand residents remained in the high lands with their vehicles and belongings for several hours before returning to their homes.