Earthquake aftermath

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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8542789.stm