Massive Earthquake Strikes Chile
A massive earthquake has hit central Chile, killing at least 122 people, the
country's president-elect says.
The 8.8 magnitude quake struck ……. 0634 GMT ………. 115km (70 miles) northeast ……. the city ……. Concepcion and 325km south-west ……. the capital,
Santiago.
President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" …… affected areas
and appealed ……… calm.
A tsumami set off …… the quake has triggered
warnings …. Pacific countries ..…… Japan …… New
Zealand.
Sirens warned people …… move …… higher ground
…… French Polynesia and Hawaii. The earthquake is
the biggest …… hit Chile …… 50 years.
Santiago was also among the areas that suffered
extensive damage. At least 13 people were killed there.
A number …… buildings collapsed. A two-level car park
was flattened, smashing dozens ……. cars.
A fire ……. a chemical plant …… the outskirts ……. the capital forced the
evacuation …… the neighbourhood.
Official figures said 34 people had died …… the region of Maule, with deaths also
reported …….. the O'Higgins region.
Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera, who is due to take office next month, put
the overall death toll …… 122, adding that it could rise.
National television said it estimated that at least 150 people had been killed.
Aftershocks
Chilean officials said that so far, the worst affected town appeared to be Parral,
………. ….. the epicentre.
Television pictures showed a major bridge ……. Concepcion had collapsed …….
the Biobio river.
Rescue teams are finding it difficult …… reach Concepcion because …… damage
……. infrastructure, national television reported.
President Bachelet said: "People should remain calm. We're doing everything we
can with all the forces we have."
Ms Bachelet said a "wave of large proportion" had affected the Juan Fernandez
island group, reaching halfway ……. one inhabited area. Three people there are
missing, local media say. Two aid ships are reported to be …….. their way.
Damage …… Santiago international airport's terminal will keep it closed for at least
72 hours, officials said. Flights are being diverted …… Mendoza ……. Argentina.
One resident of Chillan, 100km ……… the epicentre, told Chilean television the
shaking there lasted about two minutes.
In Washington, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the US was
monitoring the situation, adding: "We stand ready to help [Chile] in this hour ……
need."
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck ……. a depth of
about 35km.
It also recorded eight aftershocks, the largest …… 6.9 magnitude at 0801 GMT.
The USGS said tsunami effects had been observed ……. Valparaiso, west ……
Santiago, ………. a wave height …… 1.69m above normal sea level.
One journalist speaking …… Chilean national television ……. the city ….. Temuco,
600km south ….. Santiago, said many people there had left their homes, determined
……. spend the rest ….. the night …………. Some people ….. the streets were …..
tears.
Chile is highly vulnerable …… earthquakes as it is situated on the Pacific "Rim of
Fire", ….. the edge …… the Pacific and South American plates.
Chile suffered the biggest earthquake ….. the 20th century when a 9.5 magnitude
quake struck the city …… Valdivia in 1960, killing 1,655 people.
Massive Earthquake Strikes Chile
A massive earthquake has hit central Chile, killing at least 122 people, the country's
president-elect says.
The 8.8 magnitude quake struck at 0634 GMT about 115km (70 miles) north-east of the city of
Concepcion and 325km south-west of the capital, Santiago.
President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" in affected areas and appealed for
calm.
A tsumami set off by the quake has triggered warnings in Pacific
countries from Japan to New Zealand.
Sirens warned people to move to higher ground in French
Polynesia and Hawaii. The earthquake is the biggest to hit Chile
in 50 years.
Santiago was also among the areas that suffered extensive
damage. At least 13 people were killed there. A number of
buildings collapsed. A two-level car park was flattened, smashing
dozens of cars.
A fire at a chemical plant in the outskirts of the capital forced the
evacuation of the neighbourhood.
Official figures said 34 people had died in the region of Maule, with deaths also in reported in the
O'Higgins region, in Biobio, in Araucania and in Valparaiso.
Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera, who is due to take office next month, put the overall
death toll at 122, adding that it could rise.
National television said it estimated that at least 150 people had been killed.
Aftershocks
Chilean officials said that so far, the worst affected town appeared to be Parral, close to the
epicentre.
Television pictures showed a major bridge at Concepcion had collapsed into the Biobio river.
Rescue teams are finding it difficult to reach Concepcion because of damage to infrastructure,
national television reported.
President Bachelet said: "People should remain calm. We're doing everything we can with all the
forces we have."
Ms Bachelet said a "wave of large proportion" had affected the Juan Fernandez island group,
reaching halfway into one inhabited area. Three people there are missing, local media say. Two
aid ships are reported to be on their way.
Damage to Santiago international airport's terminal will keep it closed for at least 72 hours, officials
said. Flights are being diverted to Mendoza in Argentina.
One resident of Chillan, 100km from the epicentre, told Chilean television the shaking there lasted
about two minutes.
Other residents of Chillan and Curico said communications were down but running water was still
available.
Many of Chile's news websites and radio stations are still not accessible.
In Washington, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the US was monitoring the
situation, adding: "We stand ready to help [Chile] in this hour of need."
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck at a depth of about 35km.
It also recorded eight aftershocks, the largest of 6.9 magnitude at 0801 GMT.
The USGS said tsunami effects had been observed at Valparaiso, west of Santiago, with a wave
height of 1.69m above normal sea level.
One journalist speaking to Chilean national television from the city of Temuco, 600km south of
Santiago, said many people there had left their homes, determined to spend the rest of the night
outside. Some people on the streets were in tears.
Chile is highly vulnerable to earthquakes as it is situated on the Pacific "Rim of Fire", on the edge
of the Pacific and South American plates.
Chile suffered the biggest earthquake of the 20th century when a 9.5 magnitude quake struck the
city of Valdivia in 1960, killing 1,655 people.