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AmeriCares Aiding Earthquake Survivors in Chile

An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile's second largest city early this morning destroying buildings, roads, and bridges and damaging the Santiago International Airport. So far 147 deaths have been confirmed and the number is expected to rise. Chile's President Michelle Bachelet has declared a state of emergency. Search and rescue efforts are underway.

"AmeriCares is sending a rapid response team to help provide disaster relief in Chile," said Christoph Gorder, AmeriCares Vice President of Emergency Response. "Medicines, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid are being readied for immediate shipment."

Gorder is available throughout the weekend for interviews.

More than 25 aftershocks have been reported and tsunami warnings have been issued throughout the Pacific basin.

With the main airport in Santiago closed for at least 72 hours, AmeriCares is working with partners in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Colombia to speed the delivery of relief supplies to survivors.

For over 25 years, AmeriCares has responded with emergency relief and lifesaving aid for survivors of catastrophic disasters including the recent Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Katrina in the United States and the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia.

AmeriCares has delivered over $16 million in aid to Chile since 1989.

About AmeriCares:

AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief aid organization, which delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has distributed more than $9 billion in humanitarian aid around the world and across the United States. For more information, log onto www.AmeriCares.org

    CONTACT: Peggy Atherlay:  203-278-9920
    patherlay@AmeriCares.org

    Donna Porstner: 516-607-1180
    dporstner@americares.org

SOURCE AmeriCares