A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake hits the Maule Region of Chile on Saturday, February 27, 2010. The 8.8-magnitude quake occured at 3:34 a.m. and lasted for three minutes. It was the second strongest earthquake, next to 1960 Valdivia earthquake (or Great Chilean Earthquake) which has 9.5-magnitude, and 50 times bigger than the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
The 2010 Chilean Earthquake destroyed houses, highways, bridges, buildings, hospitals, the national Fine Arts Museum, and other properties. According to airport director Eduardo del Canto, Santiago’s terminal will remain closed because the passenger terminal was badly damaged. It was not yet announced when they will open the terminal.
According to the director of Chile’s National Emergency Office, Carmen Fernandez, death toll rises to 300, more than 15 people were missing, and will continue to rise particularly in Concepcion, Chile’s second largest city. On Saturday night, Chile’s President, Michelle Bachelet, declared a “state of catastrophe” in central region. President Bachelet told the Chileans to remain calm and promised that the government will do everything they can.
According to Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez, Chile does not ask for assistance from other countries. Despite of this statement made by the government of Chile, President Barack Obama said that United States will be there to help them if they ask for it.
The quake was felt in some nearby countries like in Argentina and Brazil. It was expected to set off tsunami waves putting 53 countries across the Pacific region on alert for potentially devastating waves. Since the expected waves of more than 3 metres high did not occur, most of the countries like Nicaragua, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and Japan have lifted their tsunami warnings.
IMAGE CREDIT: Ian Salas / EPA , WSJ, Reuters
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