Concepción. At 03:34:17 local time of February 27, an earthquake of 8,8 m.m.s. occurred at 90 kilometers at the northeast of Concepción. The earth quaked for about one minute and half, according to the reports, being one of the strongest in modern history. The best development and preparation of Chile for this kind of natural events, saved the country from a massive destruction like it happened in Haiti a month ago, although the Chilean earthquake was 500 times stronger. However, damage and victims still to be confirmed.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Bio Bio Region, near Concepción City, 500 kilometers at the south of Santiago. It created the red alert of Tsunami in all the countries surrounding the Pacific Ocean basin in the Americas, Oceania and Asia.

Concepción, Curicó and Talca were the most affected cities. The destruction of roads was especially serious in Concepción where an old bridge collapsed, fortunately it was out of service.

A Tsunami affected Talcahuano and Iloca that came 15 minutes after the earthquake. In the Juan Fernández Archipelago, the Tsunami killed five persons and 11 persons are lost, according to reports.

In Santiago several buildings collapsed. A friend of this blog who lives at the south of the capital, reported by Chat that electricity, Internet and telephones were suspended for some minutes and there were a lot damage.

The danger of a Tsunami in the Pacific Ocean continue as a probability, but most countries like Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and United States did suspend the alert.

The Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport of Santiago suffered serious damage and flights to Chile have been detoured to Argentina, Peru and Antofagasta (Chile).

The Metro of Santiago suspended operations and it was said officially that it would operate again this Sunday. The Pan-American Road suffered damage between Santiago and Temuco.

In other countries

The Chilean earthquake was felt in Argentina as well, especially in the provinces of San Juan and Mendoza and with less power in Rio Negro, Chubut, Córdoba and La Pampa.

Alert of Tsunami was given in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States, New Zeland, Polynesia, Hawaii, Philippines and Japan.

Colombians in Chile

There are about 10 thousand Colombians in Chile, according to report given by the Chilean ambassador in Bogotá to Caracol Radio. Several Chileans who were in Colombia enjoying the last days of summer of the southern country, could not travel immediately to Santiago due to the suspension of flights.

The Colombian government and the firefighters department of Bogotá offer immediate disposition to the Embassy of Chile to support the brother country in its emergency.

There are not reports on Colombian victims so far. In Conception there are 300 Colombians living, most of them working as dentists, engineers and mechanics.

Viña del Mar Festival close down is suspended

The famous Hispanic Festival of Viña del Mar where international figures of the Spanish music participated at the end of the Austral summer, suspended its traditional close down due to the earthquake.

This Saturday was programmed the presentation of artists like Los Fabulosos Cadillac of Argentina, Beto Ceuvas of Chile and Los Jaivas. This Sunday was scheduled the show of Spaniard singer Raphael and the Guatemalan Ricardo Arjona, all of them international figures in the Spanish artist world.

The Colombian singer Fanny Lú became an eventual reporter in her Twitter following the events in Chile, especially to inform about the situation of her artist colleges. All the artists were evacuated from the Sheraton at the moment of the earthquake.