Soon after a magnitude-8.8 earthquake shook the streets of Chile, the reverberations were felt on the University of Minnesota campus. Chile is home for junior Sofia Aedo, who spent most her life there. She woke up Saturday morning to a call from her brother assuring her that their mother, who lives in the Chilean capital of Santiago, survived the quake. âĂ„ĂşFor me, it was really hard to hear because my mom is by herself right now,âĂ„Ăą Aedo said. The earthquake hit roughly 200 miles south of Santiago in central Chile at 3:34 a.m., the United States Geological Survey reported. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet put the death toll at 708 Sunday, and the latest estimates are that over 2 million have been displaced because of the quake. It jarred AedoâĂ„Ă´s motherâĂ„Ă´s door shut and took out the power, leaving her trapped in her dark, unsettled apartment until neighbors could free her. Since the earthquake hit, Aedo, a physiology major, has divided her time between contacting relatives and friends to confirm their safety and watching news updates from Chilean Web sites. âĂ„ĂşI had been watching the news all day,âĂ„Ăą said Aedo. âĂ„ĂşSo I guess my eyes were kind of tiring.âĂ„Ăą AedoâĂ„Ă´s roommate, economics junior Thomas Hofman was born in Chile, and he too has spent most his life in the country. âĂ„ĂşIt was definitely a relief,âĂ„Ăą said Hofman. âĂ„ĂşMost of the people I know are OK.âĂ„Ăą Hofman said he was sure Chile would quickly bounce back from the quake because of the countryâĂ„Ă´s past experiences. âĂ„ĂşI know Chile has a strong earthquake influence in architecture,âĂ„Ăą Hoffman said. Many building codes in Chile were put in place after earthquakes to help prepare for the future. Aedo remembers living through a year when three earthquakes hit the country. âĂ„ĂşI mean, no matter how used to stuff like that you are, I donâĂ„Ă´t think anyone was prepared for such a strong one,âĂ„Ăą Aedo said. At a press conference Sunday, President Bachelet said the quake was âĂ„Ăşan emergency unparalleled in the history of Chile.âĂ„Ăą Conditions varied greatly between Santiago and towns closer to the epicenter. Poorer cities in central Chile faced a more intense tremor and had less-reinforced infrastructure in place. AedoâĂ„Ă´s aunt and cousin live in Talca, a city 167 miles south of Santiago. Nearly every home in the center of the city was destroyed, The New York Times reported. AedoâĂ„Ă´s cousin is currently stranded. Both gas and electric are out in several cities in Chile, making communication difficult, Aedo said. âĂ„ĂşMy relatives have cell phones but no way of charging them. ThatâĂ„Ă´s how we lost contact with my aunt.âĂ„Ăą While the magnitude-8.8 earthquake is more severe than the quake that hit Haiti Jan. 12, ChileâĂ„Ă´s preparedness will lead to less devastation, Aedo said. Aedo and Hofman both have plans to travel back home this May and said they expect to find their towns rebuilt.
Chile quake hits home for students
The Chilean president said sunday the death toll was 708.
Published February 28, 2010
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