MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile’s earthquake, fifth largest ever says US Geological Survey

Some of the massive devastation along the Chilean coast

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported this week that Chile’s devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27 has been officially ranked as the world’s fifth largest quake ever.

According to the USGS, Chile can claim the largest earthquake of the 20th century – Valdivia’s 1960 quake that registered 9.5 in magnitude.

But the USGS pointed out that magnitude does not correlate fatality, noting that in 1976 more than 255,000 Chinese died after a 7.5 earthquake, making it the most deadly earthquake.

The second most deadly quake was in Indonesia in 2004, when 227, 898 died due in a 9.1 earthquake.

Chile’s deadliest earthquake occurred in 1939 in Chillán, a 7.8 magnitude quake that killed 28,000. Chile’s biggest quake, in Valdivia, left only1655 victims.

By Chastity Dillard - Santiago Times