Death Toll in Chile Earthquake Surpasses 700
Stewart PerryThe death toll in Chile from the earthquake just keeps on rising. Just the other night, the death toll finally surpassed 700 people. Rescue workers are still struggling to find survivors who are trapped in the wreckage. Powerful aftershocks are still battering the country. Almost 350 deaths were at a popular holiday resort, and sources of tourists remain missing.
President Bachelet said that 708 people have already been confirmed dead. However, this is a number that many expect to continue to grow since there are still many people missing. The army has been brought in to help the police against looters, and they will be taking control of Concepcion, the country’s second largest city. The government is now starting to distribute food and water.
The first reports are finally starting to emerge from coastal towns. It appears that these areas have suffered the heaviest damage due to the 8.8 magnitude earthquake. However, these areas were also struck by a tsunami that hit following the earthquake.
Tens of thousands of Chileans will spend another night in tents and other makeshift shelters. These people are choosing to stay in tents, because they fear that these aftershocks will cause more buildings to be destroyed. Rescue operations have been hampered by these aftershocks already. More than 90 have been registered across the country just 24 hours after the earthquake. The strongest of these “after quakes” reached 6.9 on the Richter scale.
Very few parts of the country were untouched by the big earthquake. It is already said that some two million people have been affected by the earthquake, and 1.5 million homes and buildings have been badly damaged.
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Filed under Health & Environment, Travel News, World News