The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck near the city of Concepcion, Chile over the weekend is the largest recorded quake in 50 years. Though more people were killed and left homeless after the Haiti earthquake in January, this quake was about 500 times more powerful.
Cameras captured the earthquake as it happened on Saturday.
The earthquake triggered tsunamis up and down the Chilean coast and warnings went out to places as far away as Japan and the west coast of the U.S.
Islands off the coast of Chile felt the full impact of the big temblor as 30-foot tsunami waves crashed through coastal villages, ripping homes apart and sending residents fleeing into the hills. Over 700 people are confirmed dead and more than two million are left homeless as aftershocks continue to keep the nation on edge.
Nearly 4,700 miles away a standing wave or seiche formed in Lake Ponchatrain near New Orleans, Louisiana, believed to be caused by the earthquake in Chile, which ties for the fifth strongest quake recorded since 1900. Chile also experienced the largest quake ever recorded — a 9.5 magnitude in 1960.
Prayer, prayer, prayer…