CHILE 8.8 EARTHQUAKE
Six weeks after the devastation in Haiti, another deadly earthquake has struck Chile. Here is the update from our colleagues at Music for Relief:
Very early on Saturday the 27th of February 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile, approx. 56 miles Northeast of the city of Concepcion (population 670,000), followed by hundreds of aftershocks and a tsunami which claimed over 800 lives. The government of Chile has reported that over 2 million people have been affected. Hundreds of thousands of homes have been destroyed as well as highways, bridges and other infrastructure. The extent of damage is still difficult to determine. As with most earthquakes, we expect to see immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. Although this was a larger earthquake, since Chile is a developed country with a very capable government it is unlikely that this situation will be as severe as the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake last month.
