February 27, 2010

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit central Chile early today, causing damage throughout the country and triggering tsunami warnings in the Pacific basin. As of mid-afternoon, the death toll stood at 147 in Chile, though it is expected to rise, the New York Times reported. Damage was particularly heavy in Concepción, Chile's second-largest metropolitan area, which is located only 70 miles from the earthquake's epicenter. A tsunami warning has been issued throughout the eastern Pacific and low-lying areas in Hawaii are being evacuated. Ice storm damage

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit central Chile early today, causing damage throughout the country and triggering tsunami warnings in the Pacific basin. As of mid-afternoon, the death toll stood at 147 in Chile, though it is expected to rise, the New York Times reported. Damage was particularly heavy in Concepción, Chile's second-largest metropolitan area, which is located only 70 miles from the earthquake's epicenter.

A tsunami warning has been issued throughout the eastern Pacific and low-lying areas in Hawaii are being evacuated. The tsunami already reached Peru, with some coastline damage.

The Times reported that the Chilean quake is being called "vastly more powerful" than the 7.0-magnitude quake that caused massive destruction in Haiti last month. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" in her country saying, "We have had a huge earthquake.… We're doing everything we can with all the resources we have." The president said international assistance was not yet needed.

"Chile has a pretty strong national emergency management system in place and has dealt in the past with a number of catastrophic disasters," notes Donna Derr, who coordinates emergency response for Church World Service.

Derr added: "While there are historic areas in the country which are certainly most extremely vulnerable in events such as earthquakes, most of the newer housing has been built to earthquake mitigation standards, which are now required there; there is also a strong regional system in place for provision of resources, such as search and rescue operational assistance between Chile and its neighbors."

Church World Service response

CWS has been in contact with local partners in Chile, including Fundación de Ayuda de las Iglesias Cristianas (FASIC) and the Methodist Church of Chile, and also with members of the ACT Alliance. ACT Alliance members active in Chile include the Lutheran World Federation and the regional organization Centro Regional Ecuménico de Asesoría y Servicio (CREAS). The partners in Chile are conducting assessments.

CWS staff have also been in contact with the Hawaii Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. CWS has long ties in Hawaii with the VOAD and with the United Church of Christ, a CWS member denomination.

How to Help

Contributions to support Church World Service emergency response and recovery efforts may be made online at http://churchworldservice.org/aid-chile/, by phone (800-297-1516), or sent to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

Church World Service