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Released 27 February 2010
Following a devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile during the early
hours of Saturday morning (27 February) Salvation Army emergency services were
immediately mobilised to provide support and comfort and international
financial assistance is already on the way.
Lieut-Colonel Mike Caffull, the emergency services coordinator for The
Salvation Army International Headquarters (IHQ) in London reports that IHQ has
already agreed to provide financial assistance for the Chilean Salvationists
initial relief response. He said assistance coordinated by the IHQ emergency
team will also be provided regarding ongoing relief in the medium and long
term.
Chief Secretary for The Salvation Army in South America West, Lieut-Colonel
F. Bradford Bailey says that the immediate response is to provide food, water,
first aid kits, emergency packets, blankets, candles and other urgently
required supplies. A recently arrived mobile canteen (a donation from the USA
Southern Territory) is one of the key relief vehicles.
The earthquake epicentre was approximately 90 miles (150 kilometres) north
west of the city of Concepción in Southern Chile. Lieut-Colonel Bailey
says that this is approximately 350 miles (600 kilometres) from the capital of
Santiago, 'nevertheless, the quake was of a 7.0 magnitude in the Santiago
metropolitan region'. He adds that people have flocked to the streets 'as
numerous aftershocks continue to pummel' the country, severely affecting older
buildings in the more historical areas of the larger cities.
Water, gas and electricity has been cut off in affected areas and will stay
disconnected until relevant emergency crews can assess the damage and
prioritise immediate needs.
The colonel says that in these early hours after the quake it has been
extremely difficult to communicate with Salvation Army centres throughout the
country as all phone lines (mobile and land) have been disrupted.
'However, preliminary reports are reassuring in terms of Salvation Army
personnel.'
At the time of writing this news release the colonel was not able to provide
information regarding Salvation Army property.
Please pray for the people of Chile.