Chile’s President, Michelle Bachelet, has called for calm in the aftermath of the massive earthquake which struck Chile and warned armed looters that the full force of the law will be applied against them. Curfews were imposed in four cities 2 March, including the hardest-hit second city, Concepción, which is under an 18-hour curfew.

The government sent 7,000 additional troops to maintain order, in addition to the 10,000 already in place who are helping to restore order and with rescue efforts. About half a million people are homeless in Concepción and are more terrified of crime than of aftershocks.

Officials admitted the government had underestimated the dangers from tsunamis following the earthquake and is only now gauging the extent of the damage to coastal areas,  the site of massive destruction and most of the almost 800 reported deaths. The stretch of coast 500 km north and south of the 8.8-maginitude earthquake’s epicentre was particularly affected.

Links to other sites: BBC, NZZ, Xinhua

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