The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile early Saturday released 500 times more energy than the quake that hit Haiti on January 12, a scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey said.

This was a big one, scientist Harley Benz from the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Chile quake released 500 times more energy than the quake that hit Haiti.

An 8.0 magnitude earthquake releases 33 times more energy than a 7.0 earthquake. A magnitude 9 earthquake releases 33 times 33 energy of a magnitude 7 quake.

The U.S. Geological Center reported the earthquake lasted for 90 seconds and had 11 after shocks. Bridges, buildings and highways were destroyed and telephone and utility services were cut off in major areas in Santiago de Chile, the capital and Concepcion city.

Chilean authorities said 147 people have died, according to the Onemi, Chile's Office of Emergencies.

The death toll following Haiti's 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Jan. 12 raised to more than 200,000 people, Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive has said.

United States Earthquake Quake