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| Chile quake 'affects two million' | Chile quake 'affects two million' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Two million people have been affected by the massive earthquake that struck central Chile on Saturday, President Michelle Bachelet has said. | Two million people have been affected by the massive earthquake that struck central Chile on Saturday, President Michelle Bachelet has said. |
| In a TV address, she said the forces of nature were testing the nation. | In a TV address, she said the forces of nature were testing the nation. |
| So far at least 300 people have been confirmed killed in the earthquake that struck in the early hours of Saturday. | So far at least 300 people have been confirmed killed in the earthquake that struck in the early hours of Saturday. |
| The 8.8 quake - one of the biggest ever - triggered a tsunami that has been sweeping across the Pacific, although waves were not as high as predicted. | The 8.8 quake - one of the biggest ever - triggered a tsunami that has been sweeping across the Pacific, although waves were not as high as predicted. |
| "The forces of nature have badly affected our country," Ms Bachelet said. | "The forces of nature have badly affected our country," Ms Bachelet said. |
| Detailed map of quake Tsunami spreads through Pacific | Detailed map of quake Tsunami spreads through Pacific |
| "And once again they've put to the test our ability to deal with adversity and get back on our feet. And we are examining every way to restore all the basic services in the country. But there's still a lot to do." | "And once again they've put to the test our ability to deal with adversity and get back on our feet. And we are examining every way to restore all the basic services in the country. But there's still a lot to do." |
| Ms Bachelet added that she had declared a state of catastrophe in six regions. | Ms Bachelet added that she had declared a state of catastrophe in six regions. |
| Chile is vulnerable to earthquakes, being situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where the Pacific and South American plates meet. | Chile is vulnerable to earthquakes, being situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where the Pacific and South American plates meet. |
| The earthquake struck at 0634 GMT, 115km (70 miles) north-east of the city of Concepcion and 325km south-west of the capital Santiago at a depth of about 35km. It is the biggest to hit Chile in 50 years. | The earthquake struck at 0634 GMT, 115km (70 miles) north-east of the city of Concepcion and 325km south-west of the capital Santiago at a depth of about 35km. It is the biggest to hit Chile in 50 years. |
| Widespread damage to roads and buildings has been reported in many areas, including the capital where a chemical plant caught fire. | Widespread damage to roads and buildings has been reported in many areas, including the capital where a chemical plant caught fire. |
| Electricity, water and phone lines have been cut. | Electricity, water and phone lines have been cut. |
| At least 85 people died in the region of Maule alone, journalists there reported. | At least 85 people died in the region of Maule alone, journalists there reported. |
| AT THE SCENE Gideon Long, BBC News, Santiago | |
| I was around 500km (310 miles) north of the epicentre when the earthquake struck and yet even at that distance we felt it very strongly. | |
| Everyone ran out of their houses into the street. All the car alarms were going off, the trees and the telegraph poles were shaking. I can only imagine how bad things were at the epicentre itself. | |
| It was a difficult journey back to Santiago. I passed through Valparaiso, Chile's main port, where people feared there was going to be a tsunami. There was debris in the streets and the city had an eerie feeling. | |
| Santiago is operating but you can see the damage in the streets, especially the older buildings. The other striking thing is that whole areas of the city are in absolute darkness - no electricity and no running water. | |
| There is obviously a lot of work still to be done. | |
| Many deaths were also reported in the regions of Santiago, O'Higgins, Biobio, Araucania and Valparaiso. | Many deaths were also reported in the regions of Santiago, O'Higgins, Biobio, Araucania and Valparaiso. |
| TV pictures showed a major bridge at Concepcion had collapsed into the Biobio river. | TV pictures showed a major bridge at Concepcion had collapsed into the Biobio river. |
| Rescue teams have been searching the wreckage of toppled buildings for survivors. | Rescue teams have been searching the wreckage of toppled buildings for survivors. |
| A woman pulled from the rubble in the town of Parral described how she was nearly killed as she went to the aid of a family member. | A woman pulled from the rubble in the town of Parral described how she was nearly killed as she went to the aid of a family member. |
| "I was trying to save him when the wall hit me in the back, knocking me to the ground and pinning my legs under the bed," she said. | "I was trying to save him when the wall hit me in the back, knocking me to the ground and pinning my legs under the bed," she said. |
| "From there I was somehow able to get out through a small opening in the rubble, from which they [rescue workers] helped me escape." | "From there I was somehow able to get out through a small opening in the rubble, from which they [rescue workers] helped me escape." |
| In Santiago, where at least 13 people were killed, several buildings collapsed - including a car park. | In Santiago, where at least 13 people were killed, several buildings collapsed - including a car park. |
| A fire at a chemical plant in the outskirts of the capital forced the evacuation of the neighbourhood. | A fire at a chemical plant in the outskirts of the capital forced the evacuation of the neighbourhood. |
| The BBC's Gideon Long, who returned to Santiago after the quake, says whole areas of the city are in complete darkness. | The BBC's Gideon Long, who returned to Santiago after the quake, says whole areas of the city are in complete darkness. |
| Santiago international airport's terminal was damaged and will be closed for at least 72 hours, officials said. Flights are being diverted to Mendoza in Argentina. | Santiago international airport's terminal was damaged and will be closed for at least 72 hours, officials said. Flights are being diverted to Mendoza in Argentina. |
| POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES Haiti, 12 Jan 2010: About 230,000 people die after shallow 7.0 magnitude quakeSumatra, Indonesia, 26 Dec 2004: 9.2 magnitude. Triggers Asian tsunami that kills nearly 250,000 peopleAlaska, US, 28 March 1964: 9.2 magnitude; 128 people killed. Anchorage badly damagedChile, south of Concepcion, 22 May 1960: 9.5 magnitude. About 1,655 deaths. Tsunami hits Hawaii and JapanKamchatka, NE Russia, 4 Nov 1952: 9.0 magnitude 'Everyone fears aftershocks' In pictures: Chile quake Chileans tell of quake terror Chile well prepared | |
| A tsunami triggered by the earthquake struck the Juan Fernandez island group off the Chilean coast and local media say five people died there with several others missing. | A tsunami triggered by the earthquake struck the Juan Fernandez island group off the Chilean coast and local media say five people died there with several others missing. |
| As the tsunami radiated across the Pacific, Japan warned that a wave of 3m (10ft) or higher could hit the Pacific coast of its northernmost island of Hokkaido at about 1300 local time (0400 GMT). | As the tsunami radiated across the Pacific, Japan warned that a wave of 3m (10ft) or higher could hit the Pacific coast of its northernmost island of Hokkaido at about 1300 local time (0400 GMT). |
| In French Polynesia, waves 6ft (1.8m) high swept ashore, but there were no immediate reports of damage. | In French Polynesia, waves 6ft (1.8m) high swept ashore, but there were no immediate reports of damage. |
| Hawaii later lifted its tsunami warning after waves measuring just under 1m (3ft) high struck but caused no damage. | Hawaii later lifted its tsunami warning after waves measuring just under 1m (3ft) high struck but caused no damage. |
| The US Geological Survey (USGS) said tsunami effects had been observed at Valparaiso, west of Santiago, with a wave height of 1.69m above normal sea level. | The US Geological Survey (USGS) said tsunami effects had been observed at Valparaiso, west of Santiago, with a wave height of 1.69m above normal sea level. |
| The USGS also recorded at least eight aftershocks, the largest of 6.9 magnitude at 0801 GMT. | The USGS also recorded at least eight aftershocks, the largest of 6.9 magnitude at 0801 GMT. |
| In Washington, President Barack Obama said the US was ready to help if the Chilean government required it. | In Washington, President Barack Obama said the US was ready to help if the Chilean government required it. |
| Chile suffered the biggest earthquake of the 20th century when a 9.5 magnitude quake struck the city of Valdivia in 1960, killing 1,655 people. | Chile suffered the biggest earthquake of the 20th century when a 9.5 magnitude quake struck the city of Valdivia in 1960, killing 1,655 people. |
| Are you in Chile? Did you experience the earthquake? Send us your comments, pictures and video. | Are you in Chile? Did you experience the earthquake? Send us your comments, pictures and video. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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