Chile: Country Recovering from Massive Earthquake

No Comments | March 3rd, 2010 | Trackback

The massive earthquake that struck near Concepcion in central Chile Feb. 27 was a catastrophe, creating challenges for the country to restore basic services to the affected zones and find housing for the hundreds of thousands left homeless. Significant damage occurred in the cities of Concepcion, Talcahuano and Temuco. But Chile is also a long, narrow country, some 2700 miles north-to-south, a distance roughly equivalent to the stretch from Alaska to Mexico, so much of the country was unharmed. Some of the top tourist sites suffered no damage, including the Atacama Desert and Chilean Patagonia. The primary issue for travelers is transport. Santiago’s international airport was not expected to be operating around the clock until March 6, and even then still out of temporary facilities. And strong aftershocks are possible for several weeks.