Abstract
At 3:34 local time on February 27, 2010, a large earthquake of magnitude Mw 8.8 generated tsunami that caused heavy damage to the coastal area of Chile. This paper aims to clarify the characteristics of this tsunami disaster by analyzing the field survey data as well as the effects of bathymetry on tsunami behavior. Tsunami inundation height was 4-10 m in a wide area of Chilean coast and the maximum run-up height was over 20 m. The reflection at the edge of a continental shelf caused several waves to attack the coast. Due to the large earthquake, residents were able to feel the danger of tsunami. The knowledge about tsunami has spread throughout residents living in coastal area, following the 1960 Chile Tsunami and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The caution by earthquake and the widespread knowledge about tsunami reduced victims in Chile.
