Interior Minister
with an epicenter 60 miles offshore from the port city of Concepcion
had left at least 122 dead. The death toll was later estimated at 147.
The first television transmission of the damage showed collapsed highway overpasses and buildings in south
the capital, and in Concepcion. As many as 30 aftershocks, some of
magnitude 6.0 or higher, continued to strike the region throughout the
day.
Coastal cities throughout the eastern Pacific region from Acapulco to
In
Ministry said ocean surges reaching heights of 10 feet in Juan
Fernandez Islands left three dead and 13 missing. The port city of
Talcahuano was also struck by surges. The Vina del Mar International
Song Festival, taking place near the port city of Valparaiso, was
suspended until further notice.
President-elect
who takes office in two weeks, told reporters that in addition to
scores of deaths the country had suffered serious damage to its
infrastructure, including highways airports and housing.
This earthquake has delivered a tremendous blow to
Chilean society, Pinera said. “Our government will do everything for
the recovery and to accelerate reconstruction.”
International relief efforts will be stretched thin in
The quake in
The White House pledged support in
Yoma said emergency rescue teams were in operation in various cities
Fires broke out in Valparaiso and Concepcion, owing apparently to gas leaks.
Telephone and electric power were out and water
services were all down in many cities for much of Saturday morning, and
communication was problematic.
Television reports showed extensive damage in the Maule region 150 miles south of
the scene of one of the world’s strongest earthquakes ever recorded in
1960 that left hundreds dead. The quakes are caused by the recurring
collision of tectonic plates off the Chilean coastline.
In geologic terms,
.The activity accrues from the ongoing collision of the Nasca tectonic
plate with the South American plate that produce frequent quakes,
notably the 7.9 magnitude Pisco Peru quake in
—
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