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Tsunami eyewitness: 'I saw the sea start to rise. There was terror and anguish' Tsunami witness: I saw the sea start to rise. There was terror and anguish
(35 minutes later)
I was at home in Los Vilos with my three children when the house started to shake at 7.55pm.I was at home in Los Vilos with my three children when the house started to shake at 7.55pm.
The earthquake was very strong and it lasted for an unusually long time – around three minutes. It was longer than any earthquake we had felt before, including the 2010 earthquake.The earthquake was very strong and it lasted for an unusually long time – around three minutes. It was longer than any earthquake we had felt before, including the 2010 earthquake.
Out of my window I saw the sea start to rise extremely quickly and come crashing in about two metres high into the coastline. It didn’t come in far but the force of the wave was enough to destroy the houses that are at sea level.
Related: Chile earthquake: one million people evacuated after 8.3 magnitude quake – rolling reportRelated: Chile earthquake: one million people evacuated after 8.3 magnitude quake – rolling report
Out of my window I saw the sea start to rise extremely quickly and come crashing in about two metres high into the coastline. It didn’t come in far but the force of the wave was enough to destroy the houses that are at sea level.
We had always been told that tsunami waves take a number of minutes to arrive and in this case it was different - the sea rose immediately.We had always been told that tsunami waves take a number of minutes to arrive and in this case it was different - the sea rose immediately.
Since the 2010 earthquake, our family, like all residents of coastal areas in Chile, have had an earthquake plan. We took immediate action and went into the most secure room of our house – the main bedroom, which after the 2010 earthquake we constructed in light material, in wood, as a precaution.Since the 2010 earthquake, our family, like all residents of coastal areas in Chile, have had an earthquake plan. We took immediate action and went into the most secure room of our house – the main bedroom, which after the 2010 earthquake we constructed in light material, in wood, as a precaution.
And then we evacuated the house on foot to the community’s designated secure zone – a hill less than a kilometre from the town that’s about 20 metres above sea level.And then we evacuated the house on foot to the community’s designated secure zone – a hill less than a kilometre from the town that’s about 20 metres above sea level.
It only took us about 10 minutes to get there but there was sheer terror and anguish - people were running and no one knew what was going to happen. Some people were on foot, others fled in their cars.It only took us about 10 minutes to get there but there was sheer terror and anguish - people were running and no one knew what was going to happen. Some people were on foot, others fled in their cars.
More than seven hours later, we’re still waiting here, with lots of people and above 40 vehicles, because the aftershocks are continuing. There’s more people from the town congregating further up the hill.More than seven hours later, we’re still waiting here, with lots of people and above 40 vehicles, because the aftershocks are continuing. There’s more people from the town congregating further up the hill.
Related: Tsunami warnings across Pacific after magnitude 8.3 earthquake hits ChileRelated: Tsunami warnings across Pacific after magnitude 8.3 earthquake hits Chile
My husband went back to our house to get our car, and my children, aged 5, 10 and 13, are now asleep in it.My husband went back to our house to get our car, and my children, aged 5, 10 and 13, are now asleep in it.
It is very quiet now. Los Vilos has a population of about 18,000 people and we haven’t heard of any fatalities. The electricity has just cut out in most of the town, and it’s in darkness.It is very quiet now. Los Vilos has a population of about 18,000 people and we haven’t heard of any fatalities. The electricity has just cut out in most of the town, and it’s in darkness.
Our house and loved ones are OK, thank God, but I’m worried about a section of the town which I can’t see, about damage to buildings and injuries.Our house and loved ones are OK, thank God, but I’m worried about a section of the town which I can’t see, about damage to buildings and injuries.
The last aftershock was at 2.30pm with a magnitude of 6.6 on the richter scale. We’re waiting for the authorities to let us know what to do next, but we’ll be here at least until daybreak.The last aftershock was at 2.30pm with a magnitude of 6.6 on the richter scale. We’re waiting for the authorities to let us know what to do next, but we’ll be here at least until daybreak.
Jocelyn Tordecilla Jorquera was speaking to Janine IsraelJocelyn Tordecilla Jorquera was speaking to Janine Israel