Abstract
THE recent earthquake in Chile (NATUEE, Feb. 4, p. 197) may justly be regarded as one of the greatest of such catastrophes in that country, and also in the world. According to local reports by survivors, the shock started about 11.35 p.m. local time on the night of January 24, and during the two or three minutes which it lasted ruined four towns and several villages, whilst doing severe damage to several others. The earthquake was felt from Valparaiso in the north to Puerto Montt in the south, the area affected now being estimated at 300,000 square miles. Large-scale damage was done from Talca in the north to Valdivia in the south, the area chiefly concerned being the province of Nuble, and the damage to property is estimated at £1,500,000. Altogether approximately 30,000 people were killed, 50,000 injured and there are about 100,000 homeless refugees.
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The Earthquake in Chile. Nature 143, 230–231 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/143230a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/143230a0