Chilean quake toll jumps to 708

[maddezmom]

Source: BBC

The death toll from Chile's earthquake has more than doubled to 708 and is expected to rise further, President Michelle Bachelet has said.

Previously about 300 people were estimated to have been killed in Saturday's 8.8 magnitude quake - one of the most powerful recorded.

Massive damage is hampering rescue teams as they struggle to reach those still buried in the rubble.

However a Pacific-wide alert for a tsunami has been lifted.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Ms Bachelet said: "The catastrophe is enormous. The latest number I have is 708 dead."

She said 541 had died in Maule region, 64 in Biobio and 103 and other regions.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8542122.stm

[meeshrox]

1. The death toll will be much higher, I'm afraid...

The 1960 quake we all keep hearing about had a death toll of almost 3,000. It happened in a less-populated area, too...

It's tragic...

[Warpy]

3. It also generated a more powerful tsunami

that killed people all around the Pacific rim.

I think most of the deaths in the countryside are likely the result of the tsunami from this one:


More at http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/earthquake_in_chile.html

[Mudoria]

2. That's a lot but with the size of that quake

we should be happy the toll isn't astronomical. 8.8? I can't even imagine how that must have felt.

[Retrograde]

4. The pictures during the quake are unbelievable

I've been through a 7.0, and the shaking was nowhere near that violent. 8.8 is huge by comparison.

Seeing some of the pictures on CNN yesterday, I'm surprised at how many buildings stood: Chile must have some good building codes, a lot of luck, or both.

[hayu_lol]

5. An 8.0 quake under Los Angeles would have...

leveled the city of 100 square miles. Quakes are funny things, one side of a street stays normal while the other side is crushed. That happened in Alaska in '64 and in the San Fernando Valley in the early 70s. In the latter quake, a brand new VA hospital that was not occupied yet simply pancaked.

Has anyone heard what the duration of this quake was?

[maddezmom]

6. have heard reports of 45 sec to 1 min 45

but don't have links, just what I heard watching news reports.

[kestrel91316]

8. A quake of 8.0 under Los Angeles would have large numbers of DUers cheering.

Good liberals that they are.

[John Kerry VonErich]

7. Anyone with the last name Pinochet?

:sarcasm: I know that was mean but someone had top say it.

[scottsoperson]

9. brazil has a socialist president

and a vibrant economy.