The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of the Maule Region of Chile, on February 27, 2010 at 03:34 local time (06:34 UTC) and lasted for about three minutes. Its magnitude was initially reported to be between 8.3 and 8.5 Mw, later revised to 8.8 Mw. It was the strongest earthquake affecting Chile since the magnitude 9.5 1960 Valdivia earthquake (the most energetic earthquake ever recorded worldwide), and is the strongest earthquake worldwide since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. It was about 500 times stronger than the recent devastating magnitude 7.0 Haitian earthquake and is tied with a 1906 Ecuadorian earthquake as the seventh strongest earthquake ever recorded.
The earthquake was felt in the capital Santiago, as well as in many Argentine cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and La Rioja. Tremors were felt as far north as the city of Ica in southern Peru. Tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries. President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe". She also confirmed the deaths of at least 140 people. Many more have been reported missing.
The epicenter of the earthquake was offshore from the Maule Region, approximately 8 km (5.0 miles) west of Curanipe and 115 km north-northeast of Chile's second largest city, Concepción. Other cities exposed to Mercalli intensity scale intensity VIII (Destructive) shaking were Arauco, Lota, Cañete and Constitución.
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