WORLD NEWS

SANTIAGO: The death toll in the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck central Chile early Saturday has risen to at least 214 people, Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma said.

The largest quake in 50 years (in Chile) knocked down buildings, power lines, parking structures, roads and part of the Santiago airport, which is shut down and will remain closed for at least 24 hours. Streets have separated, bricks tumbled, cars were crushed and roofs have collapsed.

The major bridge between the northern and southern sections of the country is completely damaged and out of service. Several other bridges have collapsed outside of Concepcion.

Fires erupted in some damaged buildings. Power was knocked out and transformers exploded. Eyewitnesses said that the sky exploded and was changing colors and with the shaking it was like the end of the world.

Many areas are without power. One of the hardest hit areas, Concepcion, shook for 3 to 5 minutes. A fifteen-story building has collapsed. Buildings are on fire. Residents reported violent shaking and significant damage. Anything on walls or in cabinets or shelves was knocked to the ground. Fallen debris and rubble could be seen in the streets.

Large cracks up to a several feet wide appeared in the streets and the ground was broken up in many places and many roads are closed. There have been 60 aftershocks of a magnitude 5.0 or greater since the initial quake struck. One aftershock, off the coast of Bio-Bio, Chile, was a magnitude 6.9, which is a very large aftershock.

The West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has issued the highest-level Tsunami Warning, which is only triggered when significant widespread inundation is imminent or expected. Tsunami Warnings alert the public that widespread, dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents is possible and may continue for several hours after arrival of the initial wave.

214 people are reported dead as a result of the earthquake. There are reports of screams coming from buildings. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has declared "areas of disaster." Residents have poured into the streets to get away from the falling objects in the buildings. Everything has fallen off of the walls.