On January 12 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake decimated the island nation of Haiti.  According to the Haitian government this event killed 230,000 people, injured 300,000, and left almost a million homeless.

However, on February 27 an 8.8 earthquake, one of the largest ever recorded, tore through Chile and sent nations around the Pacific on tsunami alert for almost a day.  Luckily the tsunami’s power died out before hitting such areas as Hawaii, Japan, and even Russia, but Chile was severely affected as almost half a million homes were destroyed.  The official death toll set by the Chilean government is 214, but that is expected to quickly rise.  "We think the real figure tops 300," said Carmen Fernandez, head of the National Emergency Agency.  President Michelle Bachelet declared a “state of catastrophe” for the entire country and called the event, “an emergency unparalleled in the history of Chile.”  This problem is made worse by over a hundred aftershocks on Sunday ranging from 4.8 to 6.1 that have sent Chileans running back into the streets.

This widespread disaster has also caused a temporary breakdown in society as hundreds of looters have taken to the streets, emptying shops and completely striping bare local markets.  These actions have been met with everything from an emergency curfew to police use of water cannons and tear gas.  Eventually the police allowed the looters to take all the food and water they needed, but continued to protect electronics and other valuables.  President Bachelet has also decided that 10,000 soldiers will be sent into the areas that were hit the worst to restore order and to help in relief efforts.

All the people of Chile can do now is try to survive and rebuild.  Several international organizations, including the United Nations, are preparing aid to send to the South American country.  However, for the next few days the people there are going to have to rely on what they can get for themselves and what their government can provide.