MASSIVE QUAKE HITS CHILE
Magnitude 8.8 tremor sets off tsunami threatening nations in the Pacific.
An earthquake struck Chile yesterday morning, causing homes, bridges to topple. Vehicles are also plunged into Earth.
The 8.8 quake set off a tsunami which also threatens nations in Pacific like: Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Hawaii, US West coast, Alaska, Eastern coast of New Zealand, Eastern coast of Australia, Easter Island, French, Polynesia, Tongo, Samoa, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Russia and Taiwan. Island that have been already hit by huge waves are Robinson Crusoe Islands and Juan Fernandez Islands.
More than 200 people had died from the 8.8 magnitude quake, but the death toll is rising very quickly. The worst hit city is Concepcion where a 15-storey building collapsed and cracks were seen in streets with full of rubble.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a high-east level of tsunami alert. Affecting the Philippines, Taiwan, New Zealand, Russia and Japan. It was confirmed that the tsunami would cause a widespread damage.
The massive quake had caused Chile to be in darkness as the power lines and communication lines were snapped. Residents fled their homes in panic
after the quake shook for almost two minutes at about 4.15am Chile time (3.15pm Singapore time). They were desperate to call their family and friends.One of the survivors said that this was the worst experience they had ever experience in their life. Another elderly man said:"My house is completely destroyed, everything is gone..."
It is difficult to assess the full extend of the damage that is close to the epicentre as the telephone line and power line in Chile are down.Recounting the worst earthquake in Chile was in 1960, a magnitude of 9.5 which killed as many as 5'700.
After the quake, people came onto streets of the capital, hugging one another and some even cried.
Links/Resources:
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR-3ntFGdOo
The Straits Times 28 February 2010
