Chile seismic risk remains high due to Pacific Ring of Fire

Chile remains highly vulnerable to seismic activity due to its location within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a 40,000-kilometer zone responsible for 90% of the world's earthquakes and 80% of its largest tremors.

Geoscientist Andrés Tassara from the University of Concepción explains that the country's geological risk is driven by the subduction of the Nazca oceanic plate beneath the South American continental plate. This process of subduction creates friction that accumulates energy, which is eventually released as earthquakes and magmatism that forms volcanoes.

While the exact timing of future major seismic events cannot be predicted, experts emphasize the necessity of translating scientific knowledge into robust public policies, institutional preparedness, and community awareness to mitigate the impact of unpredictable large-scale earthquakes.