With 2010 already getting off to a bad start with one devastating earthquake in Haiti, followed by a large number of aftershocks, the 8.8 magnitude in Chile on February 27th has shocked many. Recovery is still in effect in Haiti and now, we have even more devastation. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called the damage "an emergency unparalleled in the history of Chile."
The death toll has been reported at an estimated 723 people, although Chilean officials have indicated that that number is "significantly overestimated", with the actual death toll being only 497 as of March 8, 2010. An estimated half a million homes have been damaged with Chile's earthquake.
The Chilean government called for aid as devastation sank in. Chile is considered to be Latin America's most earthquake-ready country though. Children learn how to run for cover during quake drills before even learning to read. They are ready for a variety of scenarios with their thick disaster manual. But, even with that, the powerfully devastating earthquake that damaged bridges, collapsed bridges, downed phone lines and killed hundreds, has left even more of an aftershock then they thought. Experts are saying that although the quake showed Chile to be one of the most developed countries in the region, it is also "one of the most unequal, with huge pockets of urban and rural poor, who suffered most in the quake." Chile is certainly going to be needing a lot of assistance in order to get the country back to the way it was. And, to think, just a few weeks ago, Chile was the one giving aid, not receiving it.
No comments:
Post a Comment