An 8.8 degrees Richter turmoil hit Chile on Saturday morning, the biggest earthquake in the last 25 years, Reuters informs. The US Geology Institute announced that the earthquake generated a tsunami that affected tens of countries on the Pacific coast. Chilean authorities declared an emergency state. The latest toll showed that over 700 people died. Over 2 million people were affected and 1.5 million houses were affected.
On Sunday night, Chile President Michelle Bachelet declared that the toll increased to 708 deaths. He said that the state of emergency will be maintained in the most affected areas to ensure efficiency in helping those in need, CNN reads.
Authorities said that the earthquake took place at local time 3:34 am. Initially, the quake was estimated at 8.5 degrees on a Richter scale. The earthquake took place 115 km North East of Concepcion, the second biggest city in Chile where about 290,000 people live.
