Social Justice News

Photograph Courtesy telegraph.co.uk

Chile needs your prayers. The South American country, located on the earthquake-prone Ring of Fire, was struck by a massive 8.8 earthquake in the dark, early morning hours of February 27. The quake is known to have killed at least 700 people so far and has badly damaged more than half a million homes.

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Many coastal villages near the epicentre were devastated first by the earthquake and then washed away pr destroyed further by the tsunami that followed. The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers search the ruins of collapsed buildings.

“We face a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort,” said President Michelle Bachelet.

The quake is one of the strongest in history, destroying homes, bridges, highways and airports in seconds. It was so strong that is was felt as far away as Sao Paulo in Brazil, 1.800 miles away. At least 90 aftershocks of magnitude 5.0 or greater have been recorded in the first 24 hours after the quake. The initial quake is said to be 50 times more powerful than the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12. In 1960, Chile was hit by the most powerful earthquake ever recorded, measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale and killing 1600 as well as sending a huge tsunami as far as Japan.Despite the dire situation and the need for international assistance, Chile is better equipped than Haiti to deal with this catastrophe. Chile is a much richer country, its government has not been incapacitated, and it had prepared for this day by ensuring that modern buildings and much of its infrastructure have been built to withstand earthquakes. Even so, the impact of the quake has been devastating. Hundreds of thousands are homeless; transportation links been destroyed; water, food, heating, housing and medical care difficult to find. The death toll is expected to rise to the thousands.

UN agencies and international governments are assisting Chile by providing temporary bridges, field hospitals, satellite phones, electric generators, damage assessment teams, water purification systems, field kitchens and dialysis centres. It is not yet certain what financial assistance Chile needs from individual donors.

Please pray for the rescuers who continue to work desperately to find survivors. Pray for those who have lost loved ones or who do not yet know what has happened to them and whether they are safe. Pray for medical staff, government officials and administrative authorities as they struggle to coordinate the rescue, assist survivors and restore basic services like electricity, shelter and water. Pray that international assistance will be made available quickly and effectively, as needed.