8.8-magnitude earthquake rocks Chile
Chile's president: More than 2 million affected by earthquake
February 27, 2010, 10:26 p.m.
STAFF REPORT
More than 2 million people were affected by a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Chile early Saturday, President Michelle Bachelet said in a televised news conference.
At least 214 people were killed in the quake and the resulting tsunami, which ravaged parts of the Chilean coast and fanned out across the Pacific Ocean.
A large wave killed three people and 10 were missing on the island of Juan Fernandez, 400 miles off the coast of Chile, according to Provincial Governor Ivan De La Maza.
On mainland Chile, the task of trying to save survivors and recover the dead was fully under way. Buildings lay in rubble, bridges and highway overpasses were toppled and roads buckled. Mangled cars were strewn on several highways, many of the vehicles coming to rest on their roofs.
"This is a major event. This happened near some very populated areas," said Randy Baldwin, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey. "With an 8.8 you expect damage to the population in the area."
The quake struck at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. ET) off the Pacific coast at a depth of nearly 22 miles and about 60 miles northwest of Chillan, Chile, the USGS said. Santiago, the capital, is 200 miles northeast of the epicenter.
At least 33 aftershocks were reported, including a 6.3-magnitude in Argentina.
The United States has resources positioned to assist if Chile requests help, President Obama said in an afternoon address.