Charities send staff to Chile quake zone

Aid groups are assisting people in Chile affected by a massive earthquake that
killed over 200 people and prompted tsunami warnings for much of the Pacific,
including coastal areas of eastern Australia.

An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of central Chile about 5.30pm
(AEDT) on Saturday.
Islands in French Polynesia have experienced waves up to 4m high but the Pacific
Tsunami Warning Centre said Hawaii "dodged a bullet", with no major damage reported.
Caritas aid teams are being deployed to Chile to assist aid teams already active on
the ground.
"Communications have been badly disrupted and we are still trying to ascertain the
extent of the impact in the devastation zone," Caritas Australia chief Jack de Groot
said.
"Our fear is the impact will stretch well beyond Chile, particularly with the
current tsunami warning and considering the massive force of the quake."
Mr de Groot appealed for people to give to Caritas Australia's Project Compassion
which can distribute funds to the communities and countries where the impact is
greatest.
Aid agency Save the Children warned that hundreds of thousands of children could be
affected by the earthquake.
Save the Children spokesman Matt Wingate said some children are likely to have been
separated from their families and would urgently need protection.
Mr Wingate said the aid agency was mobilising funds and emergency experts to help
with disaster relief.
"At this stage we assume and prepare for the worst, and hope for the best," Mr
Wingate said.
"It is likely that casualties will rise, and of course the possibility of tsunamis
poses even great threat."



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