The Falcon

Chile Earthquake impacts students, time, and the world

Friday, March 12, 2010 By Emily Hemingway

The Haitian people suffered devastation after their horrific earthquake. Relief efforts have come from far and wide to help them out in their time of need, although, they are no longer alone. On February 27, 2010, Chile suffered a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8. The Chileans have suffered a much larger earthquake than that of the Haitians. The earthquake is estimated to have been 500 times greater than the one in Haiti. Due to this extremity, Chile will be feeling aftershocks for months, possibly even years. Many aftershocks have already been felt, some of them even peaking beyond a 6.0 on the Richter scale. Over 800 people died and 1.5 million people are displaced due to the destruction. The Chile earthquake is currently tied for the fifth largest earthquake in Earth’s recorded history. Although the damage in Chile is extensive, the severity of the country’s well being is much less extreme than that of the Haitian people. Chile has exceptionally strict building codes for this exact reason. The Chilean government has even decided to prosecute any persons who did not follow these building codes and have suffered damages as a result. The only buildings which are under concern are those which were built before the codes were put in place. The citizens of Chile have been offered free healthcare to those who are in need of it. Luckily, there are no serious outbreaks of infectious diseases seen thus far. The United States has offered to aid to the country, but Chile has not asked for our resources. This earthquake has even greater repercussions which affects the world. The Chile earthquake literally shook the world. The Earth has been moved approximately three inches off of its axis and the rotation has been sped up. Earth days, by default, have been shortened by 1.26 megaseconds. This will not affect our weather patterns. "It is unbelievable that a natural disaster, that is rather common, can affect the whole world like it has," Senior Shannon Moultrie said. Chileans have suffered a massive amount of damage to their country, and their earthquake affected every person who walks this planet. Only time will tell if the Chilean people will be able to handle this devastation.