An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile Saturday morning, its epicenter in the country's second largest city, Conception. AFP reported early estimates placing the death toll at 78, but Chilean officials acknowledge
Chile Hit by 8.8 Earthquake; Will Haiti Be Forgotten?
that the number could rise as more information is received. CNN is reporting a death toll of 82. Power and phone outages in the Chilean capital Santiago are impeding communications. Santiago is 200 miles from the earthquake epicenter.
According to CNN, there are reports of collapsed buildings and throngs of people taking to the streets. President Michelle Bachelet has declared areas affected by the quake "catastrophes," a designation that enables emergency aid to be directed to those areas.
The Santiago airport is closed and a bridge connecting northern and southern areas of Chile was damaged.
There have already been several strong aftershocks, including one measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a Tsunami warning for the Pacific region. Easter Island is being evacuated. The United States could be affected by any tsunami unleashed by the earthquake; Hawaii is covered by the tsunami warning while California and Alaska are under tsunami advisories. The tsunami is expected to reach Hawaii at about 4:20 p.m. Saturday; its intensity is uncertain.
Chile is in the Pacific Rim of Fire where 90% of the world's earthquakes occur, including the most dangerous. While China has suffered the deadliest earthquakes, today's 8.8 is not the first strong earthquake to hit Chile. In 1960, the Valdivia earthquake killed 1,655 Chileans according to the National Geological Survey. Though Chile has suffered many other strong earthquakes, they often occur in its deserts, minimizing the death toll and destruction.
Chile's earthquake comes 6 weeks after a deadly 7.0 earthquake leveled Haiti's capital and killed hundreds of thousands of Haitians. Associated Press reported that a geophysicist said on the Early Show that the Chile quake's energy was 500 times that of the Haiti quake.
When the destructive effect of the Haiti earthquake became apparent, governments and aid groups rushed to provide food, water and medical services. Whether such outside aid will be needed in Chile is not yet clear.
Chile Hit by 8.8 Earthquake; Will Haiti Be Forgotten?
The British Red Cross sent 5,000 pounds in disaster aid money. The American Red Cross pledged an initial $50,000. The European Union issued a statement this morning, indicating its readiness to assist if called upon by Bachelet. Oxfam is reported to be sending water engineers and logisticians based in Colombia to Chile to aid in the quake aftermath.
"Even though the severity of the situation is unclear, Oxfam is preparing for the worst and will be sending five staff out to Chile today to assess and consider how best to help the thousands of people effected by the disaster," Jeremy Loveless, Oxfam's deputy humanitarian director told the Vancouver Sun.
Government and charity refocus of earthquake relief efforts on Chile raises the specter that Haiti might be forgotten. Will Haiti become another New Orleans? The American Red Cross released a video status report on the Haiti relief effort noting that shelter will be needed for up to 400,000 people during the upcoming rainy season. The need for food, water and supplies in Haiti is expected to continue for at least a year. And none of this speaks to the rebuilding of a capital whose infrastructure is in ruins.
Source:associatedcontent.com/
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