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Earthquake Summary
Earthquake Summary Poster
The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred about 40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Tocopilla at 8:40 AM MST, Nov 14, 2007 (12:40 PM local time in Chile). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available.
Felt Reports
Two people killed, at least 45 injured and buildings damaged (VIII) at Tocopilla. Twenty people injured and some buildings damaged (VII) at Maria Elena. Buildings damaged (VII) at Antofagasta and Calama. Power and telephone outages occurred at Antofagasta and Iquique. Felt (VII) at Baquedano and Mejillones; (VI) at Alto Hospicio, Arica, Huara, Iquique and Taltal; (V) at Caldera, Chanaral, Copiapo and Tierra Amarilla; (III) at Alto del Carmen, Coquimbo, Freirina, Huasco, La Higuera, La Serena and Vallenar; (II) at Santiago, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. Felt from Arica to Santiago. Felt (III) at Arequipa; felt at Lima and in Moquegua and Tacna, Peru. Felt (III) at La Paz; felt at Cochabamba and in other parts of Bolivia. Felt at San Juan, Argentina. Also felt at Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Tectonic Summary
The earthquake near Antofagasta, Chile of November 14th 2007 results from the release of stresses generated by the subduction of the oceanic Nazca plate beneath the South American plate. In this region, known as the Peru-Chile subduction zone, the Nazca Plate thrusts beneath South America at a rate of approximately 79mm/year in an east-north-east direction. This earthquake indicates subduction-related thrusting, likely on the interface between these two plates.
This earthquake occurred near (and within) the southern end of the rupture area of the great magnitude 8.8 earthquake of 1877, which produced a destructive tsunami and whose source region has since the late 1970ís been recognized as a potentially dangerous seismic gap. In 1995, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake thrust-fault occurred in the same subduction zone approximately 200km further south of the November 14th event.
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Earthquake Information for South America
Earthquake Information for Chile
Tsunami Information
Authorities in Chile say at least two people have been killed and more than 100 injured after a powerful earthquake struck in the north, sending terrified residents into the streets and cutting power to some of the country's copper mines. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 15:40:53 UTC.

Officials said two women were killed Wednesday when their houses in the town of Tocopilla collapsed during the 7.7 magnitude earthquake. They also said another person may have died in a tunnel collapse there, which has trapped some 50 workers.

Government spokesperson Ricardo Lagos said "They will be evacuated by the Navy via the ocean.  As far as we know there are no injured or dead among the workers."  

The USGS said the quake was centered west of the town of Calama. It was felt as far away as the Chilean capital, Santiago, and neighboring Peru and Bolivia.

Television images showed cars crushed under the concrete awning of a hotel in Antofagasta, 170 kilometers south of the epicenter.

The police chief of Arequipa, Hernan Tamayo said, "People ran out into the streets because of how prolonged the quake was. There was a lot of alarm but no material or human damage."

The quake was followed by six aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 5.7. Additionally, the quake triggered a tsunami warning which was later lifted. 

In Tocopilla, 115 people were injured. Mayor Luis Moyano said about 1,200 houses had been flattened. "Today, the people of Tocopilla are going to have to sleep in the streets," he said in a radio address.

In total, 3,000 homes have been destroyed in Chile, according to the Housing Minister. The government has airlifted hundreds of portable homes to provide shelter.

In August, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck Peru, killing about 540 people and injuring more than 1,000 others. The southern port city of Pisco was one of the areas devastated by the powerful quake, which lasted two minutes.