An 8.8-magnitude earthquake, one of the most powerful in recorded history, shook the South American country of Chile early Saturday morning, taking hundreds of lives and damaging public and Seventh-day Adventist Church infrastructure around the quake's epicenter, some 200 miles south of the capital, Santiago.
The church's Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is coordinating with federal emergency officials to provide aid and a small crew is assisting with urban rescue efforts among collapsed buildings.
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More than 700 people have died in the disaster, an estimated 500,000 homes have been destroyed and 1.5 million others have suffered damage, according to Chile's National Office of Emergencies and Information (ONEMI).
Several Adventist Church buildings were destroyed in the city of Talca, including the Central Chile Mission administration office, an ADRA warehouse and the Talca Central Adventist Church, officials for the church in South America reported.
Church officials also reported structural damage to sanctuaries in Los Angeles, the Chile Union Mission office, located in Santiago, the South Chile Conference office, located in Temuco, and Chile Adventist University in Chillán.
"The ground was moving like ocean waves," said Nancy Roa Vidal, a resident of Santiago. "[The earthquake] lasted approximately two minutes. We're in a state of catastrophe."
Residents near the epicenter remain jittery as aftershocks continue. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has recorded more than 105 aftershocks stronger than 5.0-magnitude since the quake struck Saturday at 3:34 a.m. local time.
"People are out of their homes, and many are thinking of sleeping outside for fear of the aftershocks," said Jorge Alé, country director for ADRA in Chile.
ADRA dispatched a truckload of water, which left Saturday afternoon from Santiago to the cities of Talca and Concepción. Mattresses, blankets, and other basic necessities are also being procured for distribution.
ADRA's urban rescue team is also coordinating aid to the city of Villa Alemana, near Valparaiso.
ADRA International and ADRA of South America have pledged an initial $105,000 to help in relief efforts Chile.
ADRA is accepting donations for the Chile Earthquake Response Fund at its Web site, adra.org, by phone at 1-800-424-ADRA, or via mobile phone in the U.S. -- text "CHILE" followed by a space and the donation amount to the number 27138.
Chile is no stranger to earthquakes. According to the USGS, Chile endured in 1960 a 9.5-magnitude quake, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded.
The long, narrow nation lies near a fault line between the Nazca tectonic plate in the Pacific Ocean and the South American plate. While building codes in the past few decades were designed to withstand earthquake damage, Saturday's quake was nearly unprecedented.
There are some 120,000 Adventist Church members in Chile, worshiping in about 600 churches and 260 organized groups.
More information will be provided when confirmed reports are available.
We are inquiring abaut a relative in Chile who we are unable to contact. His name is Herold Triantafilo and he lives in Los Angeles and is a teacher at the Adventist Primary School. Also his son is a teacher at the Adventist School in Concepcion. If anyone knows about either of their whereabouts and welfare please kindly let us know. Many thanks.
Ofelia Pye ( Riffel) | February 28, 2010 9:03 PM | Reply
Thank you for posting this information. Great to hear of ADRA responding to this tragedy.
Pastor Daniel Herrera | February 28, 2010 11:22 PM | Reply
I'm a member of the Adventist Church in Chile, now I'm in the north of the country, working with our publications. My family is in Valparaiso, and many of my friends are in the South-Central part of Chile, many others at the Adventist University -- many faces that I want to see again. From here I cannot make contact with all of them. In this sad hour we need to feel that there's a global church, that we are not alone. Bring us your prayers. In your churches, in your homes, every time that you talk with God, pray for your family, and pray for us, the Adventist people of Chile.
mcs-p@hotmail.com | March 1, 2010 4:54 AM | Reply
I am sorry to hear of this kind of tragedy. I am a Filipino missionary currently working in Korea and I can do nothing to help our brothers and sisters in Chile except through my humble prayers. Let's cling to the Lord, He is coming very soon.
Mark Quijano | March 1, 2010 8:27 PM | Reply
I am inquiring about my Adventist friends in Concepcion, Gloria and Alberto Foppiano. I am praying that they and their family are all OK. If anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thank you.
Lil Benefield | March 2, 2010 1:20 AM | Reply
I am inquiring about our Adventist friends Jose M. Arriaza & Laura L. Arriaza.
The Olivehurst group are praying for their safety. If anyone knows of their whereabouts please let us know.
Dora | March 2, 2010 6:45 PM | Reply
All I can say is Jesus is very close, but closer is the time when all these disasters will come to every nation, when we need to move out of the cities, to the country side to be able to survive, because in the cities we had only two options, to be faithful until death or to forsake Jesus and turn to robbery or crime to survive. As a woman in labor, the calamities will be more intense and more frequent. The Devil wants everybody dead before they get the Gospel. We are sleeping and still dreaming of our dream of home and cars, but the world is falling apart in every sense, and we are trapped in the cities which soon will fall in destruction and the chruch is sleeping and not warning the people to start making plans to move out of the cities and only come to preach and evangelize and invite people to live far from corrupted cities. Before Jesus comes there will be more disasters since the Devil is angry, knowing he has too little time. Our only hope is to love Jesus and wait for Him as a bride in love is waiting for her wedding date, for the day when she will meet and be forever with her love, then all signals will only be signs that our wedding is close, near, at the door.
Rosa Ofelia Alonzo | March 3, 2010 7:31 AM | Reply
Heavenly Father, please forgive me of my sins as I approach You for prayer.
Please heal the brokenhearted that have lost loved ones. Please draw close to them and show them Your glory in providing their daily needs. Please place Your healing hands on the wounded both physically and emotionally.Thank you for always being there for us and just a prayer away. In Jesus' name, amen.
Ruth | March 3, 2010 9:15 AM | Reply
Finally got through to HUALPEN Chile, near Concepcion, where my sister lives with her husband CESAR BUROTTO. She doesn't yet have power or internet. She also spends a lot of time outdoors cooking on the neighbor's charcoal grill or listening to the radio in the car.
She said they are doing well and have enough food for several more days, and a truck comes by periodically with drinking water. The next street over has power, and someone ran a cord over so they can charge their cell phones, but they don't know when the wire that's down on their street will get fixed so they can have power. The water and gas are likely to be even longer, since there are so many broken pipes.
She said the city has really suffered three different catastrophes: The earthquake, then the tsunami, and then the looting and violent gangs. But they've barricaded their street and Cesar's sons and the other neighbors have set up a 24 hour rotating watch, so they're doing OK.
M Lagos | March 3, 2010 10:29 PM | Reply
Why all this oh God? Maybe it is really now the end of times! Was what happened in Haiti not enough to have to experience this Chile's earthquake? Oh God, have mercy on your people. Please, return to bring an end to all these sufferings. Fill your church, Oh God, with a double portion of the Holy Spirit and may you get it ready for your soon coming. Your will be done Oh Lord.
Joseph I. Masinda | March 3, 2010 11:37 PM | Reply
Remember to rebuild using proper buiding codes for earthquakes. Earthquakes don't kill people, Collapsing structures do!!
lance hodges | March 4, 2010 12:31 PM | Reply
It's so sad to hear such tragedy that has happenned to our friends in Chile,
My words might not reach the inner part of the sorrowfull hearts, breathreans who are suffering from this event. May GOD who knows every corner of our hearts confort them. However these should not let them be discouraged and think that God has forsaken them. God is so close to them than ever been, Let them cling to him and be confident that he is there. Just like how even if the clouds might be so stiff we still have hope to see the Sun, is the same to our friends let's them be hopefull that God is there. We are praying for you.
Athanas January Sigoma | March 5, 2010 1:22 AM | Reply
Jesus never stop his love. Jerem. 33:3
Mr Jan | March 5, 2010 5:21 AM | Reply
Please Lord remember The People in Chile. I lived in Valparaiso for six months. I have lots friends in Chile. Please Lord visit them in their grief and pain.
Earl Banks | March 6, 2010 3:47 PM | Reply
Alberto phoned me today. They are fine. Gloria is at her elderly aunt's apartment, who was all alone when the earthquake hit. I understand their family is all OK.
Kathleen McCurdy | March 9, 2010 6:41 PM | Reply