The seismic activity of recent months indicates that a major earthquake will occur in the near future in central Chile as "highly probable". This was stated by the recognized geographer of the Catholic University of Chile, Marcelo Lagos, who in an interview with the broadcaster "Television Nacional" assured: «Every day that passes it is more and more probable that it will happen. We are expecting a major seismic event in central Chile."
"For a long time we had our eyes focused on the north of Chile and in 2010 we were surprised by the earthquake in the south", added the geographer, referring to the earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale which caused over 500 deaths also due of the subsequent tsunami that hit the southern coast of the country.
According to Lagos , the subsequent 2014 earthquake in northern Chile, in Iquique, discharged part of the seismic energy accumulated in that region. For this reason, a discharge of the energy accumulated in the fault that crosses the center of Chile is now expected.
"Two earthquakes of more than 8 degrees could occur without any difficulty," he said. The Chilean scientist then assured that these are not alarmist statements, but "a work that we have been carrying out for decades based on evidence" and invited to "prepare for a scenario of this type".
(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)