A powerful earthquake in Chile defied expectations. The magnitude 7.4 quake struck northern Chile near Calama in July 2024. Scientists now believe a hidden, deep-seated force supercharged the event.
The earthquake originated deep within the Earth. It tore through hotter-than-expected rock layers. This unexpected rupture occurred far below the surface. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin discovered a rare, heat-driven chain reaction. This reaction accelerated the rupture and amplified the quake's power.
The shaking damaged buildings. Electrical power was disrupted across the region. The deep rupture challenged long-held assumptions about earthquake behavior.
Chile is earthquake-prone. The country experienced the largest earthquake ever recorded in 1960. That magnitude 9.5 megathrust quake caused a devastating tsunami.
Scientists are now re-evaluating earthquake risk models. They aim to incorporate this new understanding of deep rupture dynamics. This could improve future earthquake predictions.
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