March 2nd, 2010

Chile Earthquake Death Toll 723 and Climbing: Aftershocks and General Chaos Abound.  In the wake of Saturday’s 8.8 earthquake, the death toll in the Latin American country of Chile has steadily risen.  Yesterday, there was a little over 700 dead, and tonight the toll stands at 723.

The Wall Street Journal estimates that insured losses in the country of Chile could top $8 billion.  The quake experienced this weekend, in all actuality, could turn out much worse than the Haitian earthquakes.

It comes as no surprise that people are panicking.  The government told everyone to stay in their homes if they “looked secure”, however it’s understandable that many were afraid and thus stayed out on the streets.

It’s also understandable that there’s a general state of panic.  People are looting, rioting, and hurting one another. People want to make sure that they secure food and shelter for their families and will stop at nothing to ensure their survival.  It’s estimated that 1.5 million people have been displaced by the quakes, and aftershocks still abound.

Reports indicate that so far, no Americans have been confirmed dead in the earthquake. There are about 3,000 of the 18,000 Americans known to be in Chile that have not been in contact with American authorities.

Source:

ABC News