Devastating quake strikes Chile - tsunami warning issued in Pacific countries

A massive quake measuring 8.8 degrees hit Chile on Saturday morning, killing around 122 people, toppling homes, collapsing bridges and plunging trucks into the fractured earth. The death toll is said to be rising. The quake is the strongest to hit the country in 25 years.

The quake that struck at a depth of 22 miles in the Pacific near the city of Concepcion, Chile's second largest city where thousands of people have been holidaying during the weekend is a massive one. Houses and power lines collapsed in neighboring Argentina and panicked residents called firefighters in Brazil as shockwaves travelled across South America.

Hours after the devastating earthquake struck Chile, a massive tsunami hit the Robinson Crusoe island of the South American nation. The three-meter wave hit the island, the largest in the Chilean Juan Fernandez archipelago, and was heading toward Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean where evacuations to higher ground were underway.

Strong tremors were felt across the continent – from Argentina to Ecuador – and tsunami warnings were issued in the entire Pacific region – from Hawaii to Japan and Australia. A few hours later, the region felt two more tremors of 6.2 and 6.9 degrees, making people run out of their homes with panic and fear.

So strong was the first quake on Saturday that it brought down big buildings, hotels and houses in Santiago and knocked out a major bridge connecting the northern and southern parts of the country. Power supply was disrupted and the metro services collapsed soon after the tremors hit the Chilean capital. With some internal areas damaged, the Santiago International Airport has been closed and all flights canceled for at least 24 hours.

The Saturday quake was 1,000 times more powerful than the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that caused more than 200,000 deaths in Haiti last month. Based on U.S. Geological Survey figures, Saturday's 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile could rank as one of the most powerful in history.

Appealing to the people of Chile, President Michelle Bachelet declared a state of catastrophe and urged the population to stay on the streets. "We're doing everything we can with all the resources we have," Bachelet said, adding that the country doesn't need international help at this stage.

World pledges aid to quake-hit Chile

The European Union pledged three million euros in immediate assistance as aid workers rushed to Chile after the second major earthquake struck the Western hemisphere in seven weeks.

EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso promised more help was ready if needed
He said "as a first step" the commission's humanitarian aid department would release the three million euros (four million dollars) "to relieve suffering and meet the immediate needs."

The British Red Cross released 50,000 pounds (76,000 dollars) from its disaster fund for Chile. "We anticipate the situation in the worst affected areas closer to the epicentre to be much more serious," said Pete Garratt, the British Red Cross disaster relief manager.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon was "very closely monitoring developments, including the risk of Pacific Rim tsunamis, after the huge earthquake in Chile," his office said in a statement.

"The secretary-general expresses his condolences to those who have lost family and friends and wishes those injured a speedy recovery."

International aid charities said they were despatching experts to Chile but predicted that the devastation would be far lower than in Haiti where a January 12 quake killed 200,000 people.

British charity Oxfam said it was sending five water engineers and logisticians from Chile to Colombia.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "The people of Chile are in agony today but Britain stands ready to help. We will do whatever we can."

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Paris "in consultation with its European Union partners is ready to respond to the Chilean demands for assistance." President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his "deep emotion" at the tragedy.

"We are closely monitoring the situation, including the potential for a tsunami," U.S. President Barack Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chile, and we stand ready to help in this hour of need."

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner also pledged assistance.

- Asian Tribune -