Southern, central Chile hit hard by massive quake

CONCEPCION, Chile, Feb. 28, 2010 (Xinhua) --

Southern and central Chile has been hit hard by the magnitude-8.8 earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday morning, with many cities in those regions suffering severe damage.

Some roadways and bridges of the highway linking capital Santiago and Talca, one of the hardest-hit cities by the quake, have collapsed and vehicles bump slowly along the quake-jolted road.

In Talca, some 257 km south of Santiago, some local residents have abandoned their homes and chosen to gather in the city square and open areas to spend the night, for fear of further aftershocks.

An old man, who only gave his name as Calleja, said there were too many aftershocks.

"The doors of my house fell in the first aftershock and the windows broke down in the second one," Calleja, whose house survived an earthquake in 1985 but collapsed in the strong quake on Saturday.

"The quake is too strong," he said, adding he was not worried about the damage of his house as all his family members survived the quake without hurt.

"The government is certain to provide subsidy for rebuilding," said Calleja, adding he is also likely to get extra allowance for senior people.

A 7.1-magnitude aftershock that occurred Sunday morning in the area has triggered a tsunami, which may kill or injure some 100 to 150 people.

The lack of water and food is a big problem in the area. Fire engines supply water in some small towns but can not meet the need in bigger ones.

Editor: Anne Tang

Chile quake death toll up as rescue efforts underway

SANTIAGO, Feb. 28, 2010 (Xinhua) --

More than thirty hours after a magnitude-8.8 earthquake hit south-central Chile, the death toll has reached 708 on Sunday while rescue and relief efforts are underway.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet told a news conference that the number of the killed is expected to increase further.

"The last number I have is 708," said Bachelet, adding that the country was facing "a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude" and would need enormous efforts to recover.

Among the dead, 541 people were in the Maule region, 64 in Bio Bio, and other 103 deaths were from other affected areas.

In the Maule region, more than 350 people died in the coastal town of Constitution after the megaquake and an ensuing tsunami.

Media reports also said around 400 people disappeared on Sunday morning after the huge waves of Orrego island, located at the outfall of the Maule river, hit Constitution.

Earlier, the president said over 2 million people out of the 16.6 million Chileans were affected. Over 1.5 million buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Some estimates put the total damage at between 15 billion U.S. dollars and 30 billion U.S. dollars, equal to 10 percent to 20 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

In the hardest-hit town of Concepcion, 115 kilometers from the epicenter of the quake, which is off the coast of Maule region, the whole downtown area was razed to the ground.

Editor: Mu Xuequan