海角大神

One day after Chile was struck by its worst earthquake in half a century 鈥� a massive 8.8 tremblor 鈥� the streets of the capital, Santiago, are mostly quiet.

This is normal for a city not known for its early risers. Still, this is hardly any given Sunday for Santiago鈥檚 approximately 6 million residents, who are cautiously beginning to move on with their lives.

Electricity is still out in isolated sectors of the city, where several bridges, highways, and other vital infrastructure, including the international airport, suffered significant damage in Saturday morning鈥檚 8.8-magnitude quake.

IN PICTURES: Images from the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile

A 24-unit apartment building in the western borough of Maipu totters on the verge of total collapse and shards of broken glass still sparkle in the downtown streets. Pedestrians step gingerly to avoid sections of sidewalk where police have cordoned off piles of yet-to-be-cleared chunks of concrete, brick, and tile shaken loose during the disaster. In the meantime, powerful aftershocks continue to hit the capital. A 6.1-magnitude tremor struck just before 8:30 a.m.

Santiago鈥檚 children were supposed to begin a new school year Monday. Instead schools are to remain closed at least another week, President Michelle Bachelet, who leaves office March 11, told the nation during a televised address Saturday night.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a major tragedy, the post powerful [earthquake] in Chile in the last 50 years,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the name of all Chileans, I express my true sorrow to the victims.鈥�

Could have been much worse

Yet considering the magnitude of the event, most people here agree that Santiago 鈥� home to roughly a third of Chile鈥檚 population 鈥� fared surprisingly well.

The fierce earthquake was the largest in Chile since a 9.5-magnitude 鈥渕egaquake鈥� stuck the southern city of Valdivia in 1960. The Valdivia earthquake stands as the most powerful recorded anywhere in the world.

Back to work

By Saturday afternoon, once electricity was restored in most of the city, many businesses began to reopen. Santiago鈥檚 modern metro system resumed service Sunday morning, buses are back in operation, and many people, among them Hector Moraga, the owner of a downtown newspaper stand, are making an effort to resume their normal routines.

鈥淚 think it鈥檒l be a week or two before things get totally back to normal,鈥� says Mr. Moraga. 鈥淲e all have to get back to work. As [soccer star] Humberto Suazo says, we have to dig in. We鈥檙e real dogs for work. We like it. Especially if we get some help from the state, we鈥檒l get through this.鈥�

Death toll near epicenter could rise

Concern now is mostly directed toward Chile鈥檚 Bio Bio and Maule Regions, closer to the epicenter, where the death toll 鈥� currently at about 300 鈥� continues to rise.

Dozens of people are reportedly trapped in collapsed buildings in Concepcion, Chile鈥檚 second largest city. In nearby Talcahuano, a localized tsunami swept over residences, dumping a boat in the city center. Other coastal communities have suffered the same fate.

In her address, Ms. Bachelet warned it would be another 48 to 72 hours before authorities have a clear picture of the true scope of the disaster.

鈥淭he situation is extremely serious right now. We鈥檙e going to need a lot of help," says Luis Enrique Diaz, an 80-year-old Santiago resident. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 just say, 'Well, nothing happened to me,' because there are people here who did have things happen to them. We can鈥檛 be indifferent to what鈥檚 happening in Concepcion, in Maule. We can鈥檛 just preach. We have to do something.鈥�

IN PICTURES: Images from the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile

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