Americas

Home page

Americas

Chile quake death toll reaches 700

01 March 2010 07:49 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Quake death toll reached 700 people in Chile, APA reports. Chilean rescue workers struggled to save people trapped by massive earthquake -- including dozens believed to be inside a collapsed apartment block in the city of Concepcion. The 8.8-magnitude earthquake took place in 90 km of Concepcion on February 27. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet declared a state of catastrophe in central part of the country. The quake prompted scientists to declare tsunami alert in Latin American countries, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Kuril Islands and Kamchatka. More than half a million homes were destroyed in Chile, and a number of territories were left without energy, fuel and water. Santiago international airport cancelled all flights and there were tens of destroyed buildings in the capital city. President Bachelet said totally two million people suffered from the quake, which caused 30 billion dollars of damages on the country.