Chile begins recovery after earthquake

In Coquimbo (Chile)

Chileans faced on Friday (18) the task to clear the rubble and rebuild after the earthquake of magnitude 8.3 followed by dozens of aftershocks, which left 12 dead and five missing.

In the port of Coquimbo, 450 km north of Santiago and the nearby town of La Serena, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake Wednesday night, street cleaning had already begun.

"You turn the page, as if nothing had happened the other day," he told AFP Francisco García, a 24-year paramedic, as he walked the beach of La Serena, where several shops were destroyed by the waves.

Swept away by waves up to 4.5 meters, fishing boats, ships, trucks, cars and wreckage of dozens of homes and street posts were visible on the edge of Coquimbo port. Most deaths occurred in this area

The main earthquake, considered the most potent sixth in Chile's history and the largest in magnitude in 2015 in the world, was recorded at 19h54 local (same hours GMT). Its epicenter was identified 42 km west of the small town of Canela Baja, 230 km north of Santiago.

The replica continue to be sensed, one of magnitude of 6.0 was recorded at 6:10 a.m. today.

No official assessment of the damage caused by this earthquake, which occurred five years after the Chilean coast be punished by a powerful quake and a subsequent tsunami, with more than 500 dead.

"We continue evaluating the magnitude of the tragedy. There is damage in the coastal region and damage inside, but at all costs we will assume" the situation, assured President Michelle Bachelet before beginning a ceremony on the occasion of the Independence of Chile, celebrated this Friday.

The finance minister, Rodrigo Valdés, said it was too early to assess the economic damage, but committed to reallocating resources to address the tragedy. "There are many projects currently in progress and will need to review some to make room for need of help," he said.

The US government announced it was prepared to meet any requests for assistance from Chile.

The earthquake and the 2010 tsunami, of magnitude 8.8, caused damage of $ 30 billion, equivalent to 18% of GDP this year. The losses this time are much smaller because the quake affected a smaller and less populated area.

The tsunami warning in Chile prompted the transfer to high sectors of a million people without major complications throughout the national territory.

"The most urgent is to determine if there are still missing, report where there was the most damage and define the situation of the houses [affected]," said in turn the vice interior minister, Mahmud Aleuy.

In the affected areas, basic services should be fully restored during the day.

Friday is celebrated the Chilean national holiday, as expected by the population. But official celebrations will have a more limited basis. Bachelet decided to restrict the popular ceremonies and suspend the festival that takes place every year at the Government Palace.