2. A massive earthquake has hit
central Chile
There ware massive earthquake in Chile. The
8.8 quake caused widespread damage,
destroying buildings, bridges and roads in
many areas. Some lifelines were cut. Chilean
President Michele Bachelet said that
altogether two million people had been
affected.
3. Tsunami
That earthquake caused tsunami.In Hawaii,
Tahiti and New Zealand, residents in coastal
areas were warned to move to higher ground.
Hawaii later lifted its tsunami warning after
waves measuring just under 1m high struck
but caused no damage.
4. Damages
The earthquake brought some damages.
The earthquake struck 115km north-east of
the city of Concepcion and 325km south-
west of the capital Santiago. It is the biggest
to hit Chile in 50 years.
5. At least 85 people died in the region of
Maule alone, local journalists there said.
Television pictures showed a major bridge at
Concepcion had collapsed into the Biobio
river. Rescue teams are finding it difficult to
reach Concepcion because of damage to
infrastructure, national television reported.
In Santiago, where at least 13 people were
killed, several buildings collapsed - including
a car park where dozens of cars were
smashed.
6. Damage to Santiago international airport's
terminal will keep it closed for at least 72
hours. Flights are being diverted to Mendoza
in Argentina. Tsunami waves reached the
Juan Fernandez island group, reaching
halfway into one inhabited area. Local media
say that five people died there and several
others are missing.
7. After earthquake
One journalist speaking to Chilean national
television from the city of Temuco, 600km
south of Santiago, determined to spend the
rest of the night outside. Chile is highly
vulnerable to earthquakes as it is situated on
the Pacific "Ring of Fire", on the edge of the
Pacific and South American plates. Chile
suffered the biggest earthquake of the 20th
century when a 9.5 magnitude quake struck
the city of Valdivia in 1960, killing 1,655
people.
