MEMO/10/85
Brussels, 18 March 2010
Factsheet Chile earthquake (17/03/2010)
(Broken bridge in Concepción before and after the earthquake. Source: EC JRC)
1. LATEST AVAILABLE FIGURES
GLOBAL
Number of fatalities (minimum estimate)1
421
Number of injured (minimum estimate)2
500
Total number of people affected in some way
2,000,000
EU NATIONALS
1
Europeans resident in Chile (maximum estimate) 3
147,287
Europeans tourists present on 27.02 (maximum estimate) 4
15,228
Europeans accounted for
2355
Europeans unaccounted for (maximum estimate)
977
Europeans confirmed or presumed dead
2
Europeans injured
1
Source: : OCHA situation Report 6 of 10 March 2010
Source: ONEMI, Media reports and SITCEN Consular Unit
3
EU citizens on consular lists of EU Member States' Embassies.
4
EU citizens on consular lists of EU Member States' Embassies.
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2. SITUATION in CHILE
On 27 February a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Chile. Since the
initial quake, the U.S. Geological Survey reports 229 aftershocks. On 11 March
several aftershocks were registered, of which two measured 7.2 and 6.9 (with 35 km
and 44 km depth respectively). The epicentre was registered in O'Higgins region,
150 km from Santiago, and 140 km from Valparaiso, where the Presidential
handover of power was ongoing. The Government has been correcting downward
the number of deaths because of initial confusion over the number of people who
had disappeared. On 11 March the official death toll was reported to be 421 persons.
A 30-day curfew has been imposed in the most affected regions of Maule and BíoBío. On 11 March, due to the strong aftershocks, this measure was also imposed in
O'Higgins region. Chile’s Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter told that the 200 missing
people should be added to the death toll.
Two EU Member State citizens are confirmed dead (one Swedish and one Spanish),
one Belgian citizen is injured. Those Member States that have Consulates in Chile
confirmed that they would seek to provide assistance to any MS citizen that requests
it. Some EU Member States have substantial numbers of nationals in Chile (Italy
50,000, Spain about 31,000, Germany about 30,000 and the UK about 5,000).
However, these figures mostly refer to people with dual nationality, which are longterm residents in the country and are certainly not in need of evacuation.
The regions most affected are Maule and Bío-Bío. Other affected regions are
Araucania, Santiago, Valparaíso and O'Higgins. In general terms, over two weeks
after the earthquake, the affected areas are returning to normalcy in relation to public
services. Water and electricity have been almost fully restored in affected areas
except in some rural areas, where at least 30% of the population is lacking safe
water and sanitation. Roads are open, and there is access to almost all the affected
populations. Mobile telephone communications have been restored in most areas.
Chilean government estimated that the earthquake could cost USD 30 billion (the
equivalent of 15% of Chile’s GDP), insurance covering only USD 5-8 billion.
According to Public Works Minister, Helnan de Sominihac it would cost USD 1.46
billion to reconstruct public infrastructure. The World Bank and the Inter-American
Development Bank (IADB) have opened credit lines for Chile. Chile's new
government took office on 11 March.
Since new President Sebastian Piñera took office on 11 March he has visited
affected areas: Concepción, Talcahuano, Dichato, Pelluhue, Cauquenes, Talca,
Iloca, and Curicó. On 10 March, Carmen Fernandez resigned from her post as
ONEMI director. Vicente Muñoz was appointed as the new head of ONEMI.
On 10 and 11 March, the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation,
Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, visited Chile to
evaluate the impact of European humanitarian aid on the ground with the ECHO
team and the EUCP team, assess needs to be addressed in the future, and to attend
the Presidential handover of power.
3. Main Challenges for International assistance
 Shelter: According to Government reports, approximately 200,000 houses
have been severely damaged or completely destroyed. Assessments are still
ongoing. The regions of Maule and Bío-Bío have been most affected, since
they were hit both by the earthquake and tsunami. The destruction of homes
(structural damage beyond repair, not necessarily collapsed) is very high. The
tsunami impact was devastating particularly in the coastal towns of Maule
region, where 72% of homes were destroyed and 24% require urgent repair. In
Bío-Bío 80% of the houses have been destroyed.
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 Water, sanitation and hygiene: Most of the urban networks have already been
restored. Approximately 260,000 people in rural areas are in need of
temporary potable water supply; while in Bío-Bío 29% of the urban population
is still without access to water.
 Health: The health services network has been severely affected, especially in
the Maule and Bío-Bío regions. Countrywide some 4,000 hospital beds have
been lost. The Ministry of Health has managed to restore health care services
and demand is currently being met.
 In the disaster area (Valparaiso, Metropolitan, O’Higgins, Maule, Bío-Bío and
Araucanía regions) there are 130 hospitals: 25 hospitals suffered damage, 5
of which were completely destroyed, 12 of them were seriously damaged (75%
or more) and are providing limited care and 8 have been partially damaged
(less than 75%) and have diminished capacity. 14 of these hospitals will need
to be rebuilt. 112 hospitals in critical areas are providing emergency treatment.
216 primary level health facilities (not hospitals) are operational in the affected
area.
 Ten field hospitals are up and running. The Ministry has estimated that the cost
of reconstructing health care facilities will reach US$ 3,6 billion and that it will
take at least three years.
 There is no health crisis or disease outbreak and epidemiological surveillance
has already been strengthened, especially in shelters and camps.
 Education: According to the Ministry of Education, approximately 80% of
children in Santiago began classes on 8 March. Classes in Maule were
expected to start on 15 March. Schools in Bío-Bío may open even later due to
damage to infrastructure, difficult transportation and schools being used as
temporary shelters. Approximately 33% of the schools in the earthquakeaffected regions are not operational or only partially operational with
restrictions (14%), and approximately 1,250,000 students cannot attend to
school.
 The Ministry of Education estimates that the reconstruction of the education
infrastructure will cost US$1.606 billion.
 Food: Immediate food needs are currently well covered by national actors
(both government and private actors) and international food aid is not required.
 On 1 March, an official request for international assistance was issued by the
Chilean Government. A more detailed list issued by the new Government is
expected in the next days.
4. EU Emergency response
4.1. Humanitarian Effort
On 28 February DG ECHO adopted a € 3 million Primary Emergency Decision.
Humanitarian grant agreements have now been concluded with four partners to
provide emergency telecommunications services; help re-establish health
services; and supply shelter, safe water and basic household essentials.
A team of humanitarian experts was deployed to the affected area. Joint
assessments were carried out with OCHA, several UN agencies and the EU Civil
Protection team in the most affected areas.
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4.2 Civil Protection coordinated by MIC
Following the request for international assistance from the Chilean President, an
EU Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCP) team, consisting of 6 experts, was
deployed to Santiago on 5 March. The team was supported by a Technical
Assistance and Support - TAST module (developed by DEMA-Denmark), under
the Preparatory Action for EU Rapid Response Capacity.
The EUCP team had two basis of operation. Part of the EUCP team settled in
Penco (near Concepción), from where they undertook joint assessments with
OCHA, several UN agencies, ECHO TAs, and national authorities in the most
affected areas.
Coordination in Santiago has been ensured by the experts that remained in the
capital. In Santiago contacts have been constant with the ONEMI in order to
ensure consignees for the offers of assistance from Austria, Sweden, Bulgaria,
and Slovakia, and coordination with the UN and other international partners in the
country. The EUCP team started phasing out progressively on 14 March. Last
experts are leaving Santiago on 17 March. Follow-up of the European CP
assistance will be ensured by the EU Delegation in Chile.
In-kind assistance from some Participating States (PS) has been offered,
including tents, mechanical bridges, water purification units, generators, medical
equipment and experts. The initially envisaged support in building damage
assessment (EUCP Team Bravo) will not be deployed, as this process is almost
finalised.
The French water purification units and other assistance reached Santiago on 4
March. The Austrian power generators arrived on site on 13 March and ONEMI
will transfer them to Concepcion and Talcahuano for distribution. Austria has also
donated 15 large 100-persons tents that will be transported to Chile in the course
of next week. Swedish experts on site have already identified, in close
cooperation with the Chilean authorities, sites for the offered mechanical bridges.
Slovakia has informed the MIC that it will transport its assistance by ship (5 tents 50 pax, 3 field kitchen - 30 pax, power generators - 21).
5. EU Ongoing Cooperation with Chile (Background)
Relations between Chile and the EU are long-standing and excellent. The EU-Chile
Association Agreement entered into force in 2005 and is the cornerstone of the
relationship, covering a wide range of political, cooperation and trade issues. In
general, Chile and the EU share values and objectives at international level, and
work effectively together within the group of LAC countries and in supporting political
stability in Latin America. The next major event in the EU-Chile relationship is the
EU-Chile Summit of heads of state and government which will take place in Madrid
on 17 May. The EU is the main source of FDI for Chile and EU-Chile trade amounted
to €16 billion in 2008.
The envelope for development cooperation with Chile for the period 2007-2013
amounts to €41million, matched by the same amount from Chile’s side. Funds are
earmarked for three priority sectors: social cohesion, innovation & competitiveness
and education. These funds are programmed in close cooperation with the Chilean
authorities.
For more information and to download relevant documents please consult the EU
External Action site at
http://eeas.europa.eu/news/index_en.htm
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The European Commission's Joint Research Centre funded by the Instrument for
Stability provides maps and analysis at
http://www.gdacs.org/
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