World Rallies to Help Chile Following Massive Quake
Just under seven weeks after mobilizing their staff and volunteers to get aid to Haiti following the massive 7.0-magnitude quake on Jan. 12, charities and countries around the world are once again reaching out to help quake victims, this time in Chile, where an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck early Saturday morning.
The good news is that while the quake was 64 times the magnitude of the one that hit Haiti, according to ABC News, it was much deeper, striking 22 miles below the surface and about 100 miles from the coastal city of Conception, leading to far less damage. So far, it looks like the casualties, at least in the immediate aftermath, are likely to be far fewer than those in Haiti. The New York Times says 147 people are dead, according to local news reports. However, tsunami warnings have been issued as far away as the western coast of the United States and Hawaii.
Chile is no stranger to earthquakes. The country is in a seismic zone and so most buildings in the country are built to withstand quakes. But this morning's quake lasted a terrifying three minutes and has so far been followed by more than a dozen aftershocks. ABC News says the quake will most likely make the top 10 list of the world's worst in history.
Canada, the United States and the European Union have all pledged support, as well as dozens of charities ranging from Oxfam to The Salvation Army and The Red Cross. The Salvation Army in Chile is already distributing food, water, first aid kits, emergency packets, blankets, candles and other urgently required supplies. Oxfam is deploying a team of water engineers and logisticians from Colombia to help assess the country's needs. Save the Children launched an emergency appeal on its website for donations to the Children's Emergency Fund. The British Red Cross released 50,000 pounds ($76,000) from its disaster fund for Chile. Disaster relief charity ShelterBox said it's mobilizing an initial response team from Britain and the United States.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed condolences for the victims of the devastating Chilean earthquake and said his organization was ready to provide immediate assistance. The European Union has pledged three million euros, so far, in immediate assistance, reports the AFP. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama also pledged assistance, but Obama's immediate concern was that Americans along the West Coast and in his home state of Hawaii be on the alert given the tsunami warnings. The president added that the U.S. is ready to assist Chile in rescue and recovery efforts and has resources at the ready, should the Chile government request aid.
Americans concerned about family and friends in Chile can visit the State Department website at www.state.gov. US citizens can also can call the U.S. State Department number 888-407-4747 to register a name of a loved one.
Photo by The Salvation Army via Facebook.
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