Some of this report is in Spanish with an English translation and some links lead to sites in a language other than English. Text in red are recent updates.
The death toll is now over 711 says the Chile president
500,000 houses severely damaged
2 Million people affected
Video: Includes the point when earthquake struck, the buildings shaking and the aftermath.
Onemi
The national director of the Onemi, Carmen Fernandez, said: “We believe that this will continue to increase. In fact between the last report and the last few minutes there is a big difference in the figures. And he emphasized that before 72 hours is up they will not know the full extent of the disaster.
Onemi
La directora nacional de la Onemi, Carmen Fernández, dijo que “nosotros estimamos que esto va a seguir incrementándose. De hecho entre el último informe y los últimos minutos” hay una gran diferencia en las cifras. Y recalcó que antes de 72 horas no se tendrá una “dimensión total” de la catástrofe.
Updates:
Bio Bio: The Bio Bio region is under curfew and is guarded by 1,300 soldiers.
Pledges of aid and assistance have been promised by South American countries including Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and Venezuala. The USA and Europe also. Many countries have already arrived with medical and rescue crews including China and Argentina.
Cufew Imposed: Chile imposes curfew in quake-hit areas of Concepcion and Maule. Question: Where are the people who have lost their homes going to go to?
Flights resume: Santiago’s international airport is open.
Tsunami: Seaside resort of Pelluhue washed away by tsunami.
The coastal city of Constitucion: Around 350 people in the coastal town of Constitucion, struck by the quake and also hit by a tsunami, state television quoted emergency officials as saying.
The city of Concepcion: A newly opened 11-story building toppled backward, trapping an estimated 60 people inside. This was the largest single damaged building according to officials on the ground in Concepcion.
The floors suddenly became vertical and the contents of every room slammed down onto rear walls trapping and injuring occupants. .
“It fell at the moment the earthquake began,” said 4th Lt. Juan Schulmeyer of Concepcion’s 7th Firefighter Company, pointing to where the foundation collapsed. A full 24 hours later, only 16 people had been pulled out alive, and six bodies had been recovered.
The Pope is praying for Chileans – perhaps he’ll ask him or her (god that is) where he/she was when the disaster happened. How do people still believe in gods when this sort of thing happens that belie his/her existence. How about explaining that Mr Pope? (My personal opinion of course but it must make you think, surely.)
Other Quake News
Argentina: The attention has been focused on the Chilean earthquake and the tsunami that was generated from it but little seems to have been reported of a quite large quake in Argentina. Early reports stated that there was little damage but there has been at least one death. I’ll find out more and update this post.
Tsunami Latest
Japan: Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert on the eastern shores of the country against the possible arrival of waves in some areas could reach three meters.The alert is highest in three northern prefectures (Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi), while the rest of Japan’s Pacific coast is the orange alert, with risk of waves up to two meters.
Japón: La Agencia Meteorológica de Japón emitió hoy una alerta de tsunami en las costas orientales del país ante la posible llegada de olas que en algunas. La alerta es máxima en tres prefecturas del norte (Aomori, Iwate y Miyagi), mientras que en el resto de la costa nipona del Pacífico la alerta es naranja, con riesgo de olas de hasta dos metros.
The comparison with Haiti
The Chilean earthquake was massive and there have been over major aftershocks yet in comparison to the Haiti disaster the damage and death toll is light. The reasons for this is that Chile is used to earthquakes and is well prepared and the buildings in Chile are built to a better standard.
It’s buildings that cause the death toll, falling masonry and people trapped under tonnes of rubble. Clearly Chile has learnt some lessons from the past and this has resulted in less of a disaster than Haiti.
I am not under stating the extent of the catastrophe, it is is still monumental, there are over half mission displaced people. There is massive damage to roads, bridges and viaducts, hospitals, business property and homes.
A large region of Chile has been devastated.
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