In the book The Art of Teaching Science, Chile is one the countries featured in an exploration of science education around the world.  The article was written by Claudia Rose, Director of the International Baccalaureate Program at the International School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago.  As of this writing, I was unable to access any of the links to the school, and I am sure that the magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast near Santiago is reason for the lack of connectivity to the school’s server.   Naturally, we are concerned, and will attempt further contact with the school.

The magnitude 8.8 Chile earthquake which occurred on February 27, 2010 was the result of movement between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates.  The Nazca plate, shown here, is an oceanic tectonic plate off the west coast of South America.  The Nazca plate is undergoing subduction moving under the South American Plate along the Peru-Chile Trench.

Location of Nazca tectonic plate sandwiched between the Pacific, Antarctic, and South American tectonic plates

In 1960, the largest quake (magnitude 9.5) ever recorded off the coast of Chile.  The result of this quake was the rebuilding of Chile using very strict earthquake building standards.  Even with these standards, the devastation of the February 27-8.8 quake is immense, especially in the city of Concepción, Chile’s second largest city, and located only 70 miles from the epicenter of the quake (Santiago is 200 miles from the epicenter).

As seen on news reports on TV and Internet reports, the devastation in Chile is huge, and the latest reports place the death toll at over 700 people.  Roads, buildings, and the general infrastructure have been damaged, and in many cases destroyed.  International aid is beginning, but the toll on the people of Chile is severe, and our hearts go out to them.