Deadly earthquake rocks Chile, causes Tsunami alerts
Nico Colombant
A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake has rocked Chile, killing at least 147 people, bringing down homes and other buildings and causing tsumani warnings, watches and alerts in many parts of the Pacific Ocean.
Rescue workers rushed to the scene after the earthquake struck early Saturday several hundred kilometers southwest of the capital Santiago, about 100 kilometers from Concepcion, Chile's second largest metropolitan area.
A rescue official said the number of dead was rising. Bodies were recovered in several regions. Power was cut off in many parts of the capital, and elsewhere as well.
A Brazilian woman visiting Chile said it was the worst moment of her life. Another Brazilian tourist said he had to break down a hotel window to get to safety.
With fears of tidal waves, and several aftershocks already haven taken place, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said people living in low-lying areas, as well as on islands off the mainland, were being evacuated to higher ground.
Experts said the earthquake released much more energy than the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti last month, but that Chile seemed better prepared to deal with the natural disaster.
Chile often experiences earthquakes, and damage and deaths are often limited as these usually center in sparsely populated areas.
The high magnitude earthquake prompted the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii to issue a tsunami warning for areas across the region, with authorities in countries such as Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and many Pacific islands on high alert.
VOA News
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