Factors that Exacerbated or Reduced Impacts of the 27 February 2010 Chile Tsunami

The 27 February 2010 Maule earthquake produced a significant tsunami that caused damage along over 600 kilometers of the Chilean coast. At least 124 of the confirmed 525 deaths were attributed to the tsunami. We examine factors that influenced losses from the tsunami. Chile's Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográ–fico de la Armada (SHOA) issued a tsunami warning about 11 minutes after the earthquake that was canceled shortly afterwards. Few coastal residents heard the warning or the cancelation due to widespread power outages, and the official warning had little impact on survival. Interviews with coastal residents showed a high level of awareness of natural tsunami warning signs. Coastal residents cited the importance of school and government education programs, tsunami evacuation drills, signs, the media, and informed local officials in their decision to evacuate. There were two notable failures: the vulnerability of transient populations and people in areas with no access to high ground.