MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Valparaiso considers lawsuit against National Geographic

Valparaiso Mayor Aldo Cornejo announced that he will consider legal action against The National Geographic Society, after a documentary titled “Ultimate Disaster Earthquake” provoked a wave of hysteria among citizens.

The documentary depicted the potentially catastrophic effects should a major earthquake strike Valparaiso, and was widely re-broadcast in Chile on news programs.

The documentary based its information on an earthquake similar to the devastating 1960 earthquake in Valdivia, which registered 9.5 on the Richter scale. The documentary depicted a city center inundated by ten-meter waves, ships tossed around like toys, funiculars crashing down from the city's picturesque hills, and collapsed seaside high-rises in neighbouring Viña del Mar.

The apocalyptic possibilities induced fear and insecurity amongst local residents. Valparaiso City Hall received some 100 phone calls from concerned citizens shortly after the documentary's screening. Residents stopped police officers and marines in the streets in order to ask them if such a disaster really could happen. Local shopkeepers expressed interest in moving their businesses to higher grounds.

"I think that it has caused almost permanent damage to the city of Valparaiso," said Cornejo. "We have received a lot of phone calls from people who are afraid. But we aren't the ones creating this collective hysteria, but rather those guys (at National Geographic), who should be working in Hollywood." "The documentary greatly alarms a lot of people. I do not think that this is good, especially in a tourist region like ours," explained Viña del Mar Mayor Virginia Reginato.

Concern was not limited to local government officials. Several scientists questioned the accuracy of the documentary, and tried to debunk citizens' fears.

"Specialists in the field like us do not agree with the way that the information was presented, or what was said with respect to a big earthquake near Valparaiso. It is absolutely false. Scientists recognize that earthquakes are chaotic phenomenon and impossible to predict with time. There has been a terrible lack of responsibility," said Jaime Campos, the Director of the Seismological Centre at the University of Chile.

In the midst of a firestorm of criticism, National Geographic Channels released a statement in its defence. "Our intention is to not generate fear amongst citizens or people who want to travel to the area, but rather to reveal the facts. The fault close to the Chilean coast has broken before, and it is possible that it will happen again. It is possible that this will not happen in hundreds, or even thousands of years. But, the best way to survive an event like this is to be prepared."

By Matt Malinowski The Santiago Times - News about Chile