Chile declares disaster zone in the wake of earthquake affecting 15,000 people

SANTIAGO, November 15

The Chilean government today declared the northern part of the country a disaster zone after a 7.7 degree earthquake on the Richter scale occurred on Thursday, leaving 15,000 people affected.

Government Minister and Secretary General Ricardo Lagos Weber reported that the measure will allow authorities to send help more rapidly to the area, 630 kilometers north of the capital city of Santiago.

Lagos reported that at least 15,000 individuals were affected in the Antofagasta region, with 80% of homes in Tocopilla damaged, 70% of them in the former salt mining camp of María Elena.

The declaration of a ‘disaster zone’ by decree allows the country’s executive authorities to facilitate the distribution of resources needed for reconstruction of the communities damaged by the quake and to streamline administrative procedures.

The government official added that 14 tons of aid will be sent to the area this Thursday, including 500 prefabricated homes and military field hospital for Tocopilla where the central city clinic was severely damaged.

He said that two people were killed by falling debris and in Tocopilla 155 were injured.

President Michelle Bachelet is to travel to the disaster zone to head a meeting of the emergency and crisis committee and visit the injured.

The Chilean minister confirmed that tank trucks are supplying potable water to the affected communities and that classes have been cancelled at universities, elementary and secondary schools.

The intense earthquake struck Wednesday at 12:43 local time (15:43 GMT) and lasted 40 seconds, with its epicenter near the town of Quillahua, 1,345 kilometers north of Santiago, according to official reports.

Yesterday’s quake occurred a little more than one year after a 7.9 degree Richter earthquake hit northern Chile in June of 2005, leaving 6,000 affected.

Translated by Granma International