Massive earthquake northern Chile and tsunami warning west coast Latin America

The northern coast of Chile was struck by an earthquake on Tuesday evening at 20.45. It had a magnitude of 8.2 on the Richter scale. The earthquake took place in the sea, 95 kilometres northwest of the Chilean coastal city of Iquique. According to the Chilean Minister of the Interior, at least five people were killed and at least seven people have been seriously injured. Three hundred women escaped from a prison in Iquique, 26 of them are back behind bars. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, declared the regions Arica and Parinacota in the north of Chile disaster areas. She signed a decree that will include security being put under military rule.

Tsunami Warning
A tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre for the entire west coast of Latin America and part of Central America. Shortly after the quake the tsunami warning was withdrawn for some countries. Later it was also withdrawn for Peru and Chile. Several aftershocks occurred with a magnitude of 5.0 on the Richter scale.

Tidal wave
About 45 minutes after the quake the first wave reached the Chilean coast. The wave, about two meters high, hit the village of Pisagua, according to the Navy. The Tsunami Warning Centre reported that waves of up to 2.3 meters were reported off the coast of Chile. The exact extent of the damage caused by the earthquake and the waves is not known. It is thought that roads in some places will be impassable due to landslides.

The earthquake has had little effect on fruit production in the region. "The quake was about 100 kilometres northwest from Iquique and a good 1,000 kilometres north of the northernmost growing region of Chile (Copiapo). Moreover, in that area harvest has already taken place. We do not expect there to be any influence on our fruit season. Chile a strong country, and as such can handle a strong earthquake," says Dutch importer Jan Marc Schulz of SFI Rotterdam. "I have not spoken directly to anyone, but this is my reasoning on the basis of the location and my experience."

Daan van der Kooij of Jokofruit confirms this, "No fruit destined for Europe come from that area, it is more of a desert area in the interior. It could have more influence on southern ports in Peru, but that seems to be ok. Ports exporting fruit to Europe from Chile would Santiago and further south. The country is 4,400 km long and Santiago is halfway down."

Dennis Bartels from Fruto del Campo said that he had spoken to a few Chileans and the damage was limited."It seems to be an area where not many people live and there is little production. However, there are ports in the affected area, but they could say little about whether there really is damage caused from the earthquake."

Andres Ramirez from Capespan said that according to his colleagues from Chile the earthquake is less severe than in 2010. There are some "movements" measured in the sea level, so there may be some parts of the coast hit. The central valleys of Ovalle, San Felipe, Santiago and southern parts didn't even feel this earthquake. In terms of fruit, we expect little impact. Possibly there will be some delay in the supply of containers, since the ports will remain closed until the tsunami warning is repealed."

Chile is located on what geologists call "the Pacific ring of fire". The activity in the earth's crust is particularly intense in this ring. In February 2010 the country was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale, followed by a tsunami. There were then more than 500 deaths.