Chile quake a 'warning' to others

Yesterday's massive earthquake in Chile brings a warning for New Zealand and other earthquake-prone countries to be prepared, experts say.

The magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile about 7.30pm (NZT), killing more than 300 people and prompting a Pacific-wide tsunami and warnings.

New Zealand remains on advisory after waves of up to 1 metre hit this morning, with people warned to stay away from beaches and out of the water.

Victoria University Geophysics Professor Martha Savage said the tsunami was timely for New Zealand as new procedures for alerts had just been put in place.

The magnitude 8.8 earthquake was the largest to occur since the Sumatran Boxing Day earthquake in 2004, which created a devastating tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people.

"Luckily the tsunami from this earthquake was much smaller than the 2004 event. Moreover, emergency services learned lessons from the previous earthquake and loss of life was much less."

However, yesterday's earthquake had done "tremendous damage" to Chile, Professor Savage said.

"It is important to remember that people living in cities in earthquake-prone areas such as the Pacific rim need to be vigilant and to be prepared for disaster to strike."

Building codes were important and residents should have emergency supplies of food and water and plans in place, she said.

"There is a common saying in seismology, that 'earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do'."

Massey University joint centre for disaster research associate director Bruce Glavovic said yesterday's earthquake and January's earthquake in Haiti underscored a vital lesson for New Zealand and other places prone to earthquakes.

An event such as this became a disaster when the affected population was unable to cope, he said.

"Socially vulnerable populations - people who may be poor and marginalised - are especially at risk."

The Haitian earthquake was devastating - more than 200,000 people died - despite being of significantly lower magnitude than yesterday's quake.

"...The Haitian population at risk was large, concentrated and socially vulnerable: many living in abject poverty, with low levels of preparedness , poor quality building standards, etc. Hence the devastation of the Haitian earthquake."

More attention should be focused on reducing the social vulnerability of populations facing natural hazard risks, he said.

The tsunami generated by yesterday's earthquake headed west-northwestward across the Pacific, but some people in New Zealand and Australia did not heed warnings to stay away from beaches.

Australian Tsunami Research Centre co-director Associate Professor Dale Dominey-Howes said the Australian Tsunami Warning System had worked well but it was of "some concern" people had been filmed swimming at Sydney beaches during the period when the tsunami is forecast to arrive.

"It is clear that either the warning message has failed to reach some people, or that individuals do not understand or appreciate the significance of the warning. This means further work should occur to raise community awareness of the danger posed by tsunamis."

GNS science seismologist Dr Bill Fry said earthquake was a result of the oceanic Nazca plate being thrust under the South American plate.

Aftershocks had been larger than magnitude 6 and could reach as high as 7 on the Richter scale, he said.

- NZPA