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| Chile counts cost as tsunami ebbs | Chile counts cost as tsunami ebbs |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Chile has begun to count the cost of its deadly 8.8 magnitude earthquake as nations around the Pacific eased their fears of a devastating tsunami. | Chile has begun to count the cost of its deadly 8.8 magnitude earthquake as nations around the Pacific eased their fears of a devastating tsunami. |
| The quake, on Saturday morning, killed at least 300 people - 90% of them in their homes. It is feared the damage may cost tens of billions of dollars. | The quake, on Saturday morning, killed at least 300 people - 90% of them in their homes. It is feared the damage may cost tens of billions of dollars. |
| One major rescue effort is in the city of Concepcion, where dozens are feared trapped in a collapsed apartment block. | One major rescue effort is in the city of Concepcion, where dozens are feared trapped in a collapsed apartment block. |
| The Pacific-wide alert for a tsunami in the wake of the quake has been lifted. | The Pacific-wide alert for a tsunami in the wake of the quake has been lifted. |
| Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said that two million people had been affected by the earthquake. | Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said that two million people had been affected by the earthquake. |
| The 8.8 quake is one of the biggest ever recorded and the largest to hit Chile in 50 years. | The 8.8 quake is one of the biggest ever recorded and the largest to hit Chile in 50 years. |
| 'Catastrophe' | 'Catastrophe' |
| Many Chileans in affected areas have spent the first night since the earthquake outdoors, afraid to stay inside. | Many Chileans in affected areas have spent the first night since the earthquake outdoors, afraid to stay inside. |
| AT THE SCENE Gideon Long, BBC News, Santiago | AT THE SCENE Gideon Long, BBC News, Santiago |
| The streets of the capital, usually buzzing with activity on a summer weekend like this, are eerily quiet and dark. Nearly 24 hours after the quake struck, whole swathes of the city have no electricity and no running water. | The streets of the capital, usually buzzing with activity on a summer weekend like this, are eerily quiet and dark. Nearly 24 hours after the quake struck, whole swathes of the city have no electricity and no running water. |
| Many people have packed up and left to stay with friends and relatives who are better off than they are. | Many people have packed up and left to stay with friends and relatives who are better off than they are. |
| The city's new buildings seemed to have survived more or less intact. But it's the old buildings that suffered. I drove past my local church - still intact but missing its dome, which crashed to the ground when the earth began to shake. | The city's new buildings seemed to have survived more or less intact. But it's the old buildings that suffered. I drove past my local church - still intact but missing its dome, which crashed to the ground when the earth began to shake. |
| Around the city of Concepcion, whole villages have been flattened. Highways have been sliced in two and bridges have collapsed. | Around the city of Concepcion, whole villages have been flattened. Highways have been sliced in two and bridges have collapsed. |
| But help is arriving. Chile has a long history of earthquakes and the authorities here know how to deal with them. Santiago shaken but spared | But help is arriving. Chile has a long history of earthquakes and the authorities here know how to deal with them. Santiago shaken but spared |
| In Concepcion, close to the epicentre, mayor Jacqueline van Rysselberghe said dozens of people were trapped in the collapsed apartment block. | In Concepcion, close to the epicentre, mayor Jacqueline van Rysselberghe said dozens of people were trapped in the collapsed apartment block. |
| "Time is of the essence to save the people inside this building," she said. | "Time is of the essence to save the people inside this building," she said. |
| Rescue coordinator Commander Marcelo Plaza said: "We spent the whole night working, smashing through walls to find survivors. The biggest problem is fuel, we need fuel for our machinery and water for our people." | Rescue coordinator Commander Marcelo Plaza said: "We spent the whole night working, smashing through walls to find survivors. The biggest problem is fuel, we need fuel for our machinery and water for our people." |
| National television showed pictures of people removing goods from supermarkets in Concepcion, Chile's second city, before police arrived to clear the crowd with tear gas and water cannon. | National television showed pictures of people removing goods from supermarkets in Concepcion, Chile's second city, before police arrived to clear the crowd with tear gas and water cannon. |
| The situation there has been described as critical. | The situation there has been described as critical. |
| Ms van Rysselberghe said Concepcion had as yet received no food or other aid from Santiago and that it was urgently needed. | Ms van Rysselberghe said Concepcion had as yet received no food or other aid from Santiago and that it was urgently needed. |
| Aftershocks have continued to rock Santiago and other areas. On Sunday morning a powerful 6.1 tremor north of the city of Talca added to the terror of survivors - although it caused no major damage, BBC regional correspondent Daniel Schweimler said. | |
| The epicentre of the quake was 115km (70 miles) north-east of Concepcion and 325km south-west of Santiago. | The epicentre of the quake was 115km (70 miles) north-east of Concepcion and 325km south-west of Santiago. |
| Chilean officials and ministers are still trying to come to terms with the scale of the disaster. | Chilean officials and ministers are still trying to come to terms with the scale of the disaster. |
| Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma said it was difficult to give precise figures of a "catastrophe of immense proportions". | Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma said it was difficult to give precise figures of a "catastrophe of immense proportions". |
| One US risk assessor, Eqecat, put the value of the damage at between $15bn and $30bn (£9.8bn-£19.6bn) or 10-20% of gross domestic product. | |
| About 1.5 million homes have been damaged and police patrols have been stepped up to deter looters. | About 1.5 million homes have been damaged and police patrols have been stepped up to deter looters. |
| Detailed map of quake Tsunami spreads through Pacific Eyewitness: 'Nature's fury' | Detailed map of quake Tsunami spreads through Pacific Eyewitness: 'Nature's fury' |
| Most of the collapsed buildings were of older design - including many historic structures. About 90% of the historic centre of the town of Curico was destroyed. Many roads and bridges across the affected area were damaged or destroyed. | Most of the collapsed buildings were of older design - including many historic structures. About 90% of the historic centre of the town of Curico was destroyed. Many roads and bridges across the affected area were damaged or destroyed. |
| Santiago airport was damaged and remains closed. | Santiago airport was damaged and remains closed. |
| Jose Abumohor, of Chile's national emergency centre, said efforts were already under way to restore public services. | Jose Abumohor, of Chile's national emergency centre, said efforts were already under way to restore public services. |
| "The aim is as soon as possible that we manage to reach a state of normality," he said. | "The aim is as soon as possible that we manage to reach a state of normality," he said. |
| Mr Abumohor said the metro system would soon be working in Santiago and other transport services were slowly returning to normal. Roads were passable, although with diversions. | Mr Abumohor said the metro system would soon be working in Santiago and other transport services were slowly returning to normal. Roads were passable, although with diversions. |
| Efforts were under way to get aid to victims, with relief supplies being sent to the Juan Fernandez islands, where at least five people were killed as tsunamis hit. | |
| The coastal town of Talcahuano, badly damaged by tsunami waves, is said to be the worst affected. | The coastal town of Talcahuano, badly damaged by tsunami waves, is said to be the worst affected. |
| Organisation of the reconstruction effort will soon pass to Chile's new president, Sebastian Pinera, who takes office in two weeks. | Organisation of the reconstruction effort will soon pass to Chile's new president, Sebastian Pinera, who takes office in two weeks. |
| 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 In pictures: Chile quake Chileans tell of quake terror Chile well prepared | 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 In pictures: Chile quake Chileans tell of quake terror Chile well prepared |
| "It's going to be a very big task and we're going to need resources," he said. | "It's going to be a very big task and we're going to need resources," he said. |
| Chile has so far not requested aid despite offers of assistance from the US, China, the EU, the UN and others. | Chile has so far not requested aid despite offers of assistance from the US, China, the EU, the UN and others. |
| Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez said Chile did not want aid offers to be "a distraction", adding: "Any aid that arrives without having been determined to be needed really helps very little." | Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez said Chile did not want aid offers to be "a distraction", adding: "Any aid that arrives without having been determined to be needed really helps very little." |
| Economic analysts say the quake will have a deep impact on Chile's economy, with the peso weakening in the short term and a large cost for rebuilding. | Economic analysts say the quake will have a deep impact on Chile's economy, with the peso weakening in the short term and a large cost for rebuilding. |
| However, Chile could benefit in the long term from an economic boost in the reconstruction effort. | However, Chile could benefit in the long term from an economic boost in the reconstruction effort. |
| Alberto Ramos of Goldman Sachs told Reuters: "The Chileans fortunately have the best managed economy in the hemisphere and will be able to deal with this terrible adversity." | Alberto Ramos of Goldman Sachs told Reuters: "The Chileans fortunately have the best managed economy in the hemisphere and will be able to deal with this terrible adversity." |
| Evacuation orders | Evacuation orders |
| Meanwhile fears of a devastating tsunami across the Pacific receded on Sunday. | Meanwhile fears of a devastating tsunami across the Pacific receded on Sunday. |
| Japan has maintained an alert, issuing evacuation orders for 320,000 people around the coast. | Japan has maintained an alert, issuing evacuation orders for 320,000 people around the coast. |
| However, it downgraded its alert from major to normal - meaning waves of two metres were expected rather than three. | However, it downgraded its alert from major to normal - meaning waves of two metres were expected rather than three. |
| About 50 Pacific countries and territories had issued tsunami alerts. | About 50 Pacific countries and territories had issued tsunami alerts. |
| French Polynesia and Tahiti were among those hit by high waves, but no casualties have been reported. | French Polynesia and Tahiti were among those hit by high waves, but no casualties have been reported. |
| The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center on Sunday lifted its Pacific-wide alert. | The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center on Sunday lifted its Pacific-wide alert. |
| Warning systems across the Pacific have improved since the 2004 Indonesia quake sparked a tsunami that killed nearly 250,000 people. | Warning systems across the Pacific have improved since the 2004 Indonesia quake sparked a tsunami that killed nearly 250,000 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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