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Martial law in Chile
President Bachelet declared a state of siege on the basis that it was necessary to maintain order and distribute aid. Government officials blamed looters for interfering with the rescue and aid effort.
So far, the death toll from the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami stands at 723 and is expected to rise. Many who are now missing are believed to have drowned at sea, while others are still buried under the rubble. Some 1.5 million homes were destroyed, many of them wiped out by the tsunami.
The number of wounded and disappeared has not been established, but it is believed to be in the tens of thousands. In Concepción, Chile’s second largest city, 48 people are believed to be trapped alive under a collapsed 15-story building.
- Liliana Santirso's blog
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Concepcion,Chile: Social tension
In Concepcion, large numbers of police were deployed to enforce an overnight curfew.
Some 160 people were arrested as officers tried to stop people looting stores and homes, and one man was shot dead during disturbances, police said.
Many of Concepcion's 500,000 inhabitants are short of food and have seen their water and electricity supplies cut off.
Attempts by residents to get access to food have been most concentrated in the poor neighborhoods of southern Santiago, Chile’s capital, and Concepción. Concepción’s mayor, Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe, was first to demand the use of government troops, after using Concepción police to fire tear gas at residents. “Marines and soldiers must be on the street, because there is chaos,” declared Van Rysselberghe.
Van Rysselberghe herself admitted that the quake victims are facing hunger. “If we do not solve the food problem, we will face an explosive situation,” she said. Her words were echoed by her counterpart at Bío Bío, Jaime Tohár: “We had a dramatic day. The earthquake caused enormous damage. We fully expect that the number of dead will increase. Many are still buried under the rubble.”
Because of the tsunami, some of the worst hit towns—including Constitucion, Lloca, Dichato and other—lie on the coast. Many of these towns remain largely isolated three days later. The Los Angeles Times quoted Constitucion municipal comptroller Cesar Arrellano saying, “It seems everyone has forgotten about us. Maybe that’s because we’re out of contact.”
Chile steps up quake relief efforts and appeals for foreing aid
As the dead toll in the aftermath of the massive Chile earthquake rises, Chile has stepped up the quake relief efforts. The Chile President Michelle Bachelet said that, “We’re facing an emergency unlike anything else in Chile’s history. We generally do not ask for help” but in view of the devastating earthquake, she said that Chile wants foreign aid as it faces “a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort to recover.” It must be mentioned that the appeal for foreign aid did not come immediately after the earthquake, as Chile is one of the most developed countries in Latin America. However when the true horror of the quake and the destruction that it caused, was known then there was no option for the President of Chile, other than to appeal for foreign aid
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/chile-steps-up-the-quake-relief-efforts-as-the-dead-toll-rises-to-799_100329344.html
Red Cross appeals for Chilean Quake victims
Red Cross spokeswoman Marie-Francoise Borel says funds from the emergency appeal will provide 15,000 families with relief goods, tents and tarpaulins, as well as a field hospital and generators. She says water and sanitation teams, and logistics experts will provide support during the next six months.
The World Health Organization reports most of the 76 hospitals in the region are operating without major difficulty. But in the disaster zone, eight hospitals are unusable and 10 have major damage.
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/americas/Red-Cross-Appeals-for-Chilean-Quake-Victims-86244227.html