UWS grad: First-person from Santiago

The earthquake hit at exactly 3:34 a.m. It began slowly, like any other time the ground shakes (we get plenty of small earthquakes every other week or two). However, after about 15 seconds, it got stronger, and then considerably stronger, to the point where we couldn’t keep our balance. I heard four explosions and heard several structures collapsing. The main fear by most was that it was such a long earthquake that appeared as if it would never end.

The aftershocks have been nerve-wracking because we have had 20-plus of them, ranging in force from 4 to 6.7 on the Richter scale. It has been a very scary time.

People quickly took to the streets and began a frantic search for their loved ones. Most phone lines were lost within seconds of the earthquake and human faces quickly began to appear. For instance, some stopped their cars to take other ones to safer ground, others used this time to break into stores and begin looting. Other people cuddled into circles at parks to keep warm, many wearing nothing but underwear.

At first glance, the city became completely dark and a dark dust cloud began to cover the air, making breathing difficult. As daylight took over, the true brutality of the earthquake came to light. In some areas of the city the damage is truly heartbreaking.

We are a country of earthquakes, and as such we have prepared ourselves well for these events. However, no one can ever be really ready. Nonetheless, most buildings in the city are built to withstand earthquakes and about 90 percent of them passed the test, though many have very serious structural damage. Many old churches and antique homes suffered serious damage or have completely collapsed.

Every hour we find out more and more news. Several coastal cities have been hit by tsunamis, one of them, the city of Talcahuano, ended up with a big fishing ship resting in the central plaza about a half kilometer inland.

Today, unable to sleep, I walked around the city taking pictures of the damage I saw around me. I felt fortunate not to be in the epicenter. In Santiago, we were struck with an 8.3 on the Richter scale while the epicenter, very close to Concepcion, was hit with 8.8.

Diego Herrera of Santiago, Chile, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2007.

Tags: news, chile, earthquake