An 8.8 magnitude earthquake in the South American country of Chile that hit yesterday has killed more than 700 people and the death toll is still rising. Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet has declared a state of “ecocatastrophe.”
The epicentre of the quake was about 115 kilometres outside of Concepcion, home to 200 000 people. Across Concepcion, building have been flattened—razed to the ground or partially toppled though people remained trapped inside. “Zones of catastrophe” have been declared Bio-Bio, Maule, Araucania, Valparaiso and Metropolitan Santiago.
Chile continues to experience substantial aftershocks, and it is reported that the earthquake generated small tsunamis (3-4 feet) that struck off the coast of Hawaii and Japan. The earthquake could be felt as far as Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Over 500 000 family homes have been damaged. 2 million people in total have been internally displaced. Accessing more information is proving difficult, as telecommunications and power lines are down. However, charities on the ground are providing emergency relief services such as food, shelter, potable water, search-and-rescuers services, and other essentials; the continue to try and keep the international community updated.
Large-scale disasters, whether in armed conflict or natural disasters, increase the vulnerability of children to a myriad of dangers. Hunger, disease, and human trafficking are only some of the “secondary disasters” that endanger the lives of children apart from death or injury from earthquake itself. In the medium and long term, ensuring that children stay in school and can find medicine and health care are of primary importance. This measure of social stability and the continuance of important development interventions will mean a smoother transition from emergency relief to post-disaster reconstruction.
Chile has recently made enormous progress on improving child health and primary and secondary school enrolment. Though families of a lower socioeconomic status are less able to access high quality education, it is important not to let the earthquake derail this progress made on child welfare. Coordinating relief efforts will remain vital, if Chile is to receive adequate support in the wake of the January 12 Haitian earthquake.
Sadly, Chile is no stranger to devastating natural disasters. The worst occurred in 1960, when a 9.5 magnitude earthquake killed over 1 600 people and displaced more than 2 million. A previous earthquake in 1939 of 8.3 magnitude killed 30 000.