Working through a network of 20 churches, Samaritan's Purse distributed three tons of food to earthquake survivors in Concepcion, Chile, on Wednesday. Concepcion has been put under a strict curfew, but our team has been given special permission to work during restricted hours.

Concepcion, the second-largest city in Chile, is about 70 miles from the epicenter of the massive 8.8 magnitude quake that hit Saturday. A member of our Operation Christmas Child National Leadership Team has purchased food in a neighboring area and is delivering it to Concepcion for distribution Thursday. We are coordinating with missionaries in Santiago to secure more food for residents who lost everything in the disaster.

We also are assessing how we can best supply clean water to the affected population.

On Tuesday, the Samaritan’s Purse team distributed food, water, blankets, and other emergency items in the hard-hit city of Constitución, which was devastated by the earthquake and a subsequent tsunami.

At least 350 people were killed in Constitución. The region of Maule, where the city is located, still has no electricity, sewage, or potable water. A state of emergency was declared. Houses have been destroyed, cars flipped, and large fishing boats washed onto land.

United Nations assessment teams are reporting that the disaster has affected 80 percent of Chile’s population. Four of the seven hospitals in the worst-hit areas are too badly affected to function. Approximately 1.5 million homes are damaged.

The government is working to maintain order while mounting rescue and emergency relief operations. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet issued a statement to reassure the population that the country is not facing shortages of food or fuel. Many people are telling our team, however, that they are very hungry, and we have not seen any other organizations distributing food.

In addition to the earthquake, about 125 miles of Chile’s coast was hit by a tsunami that completely devastated several communities. Many of these areas have not yet received emergency assistance.

“The earthquake has impacted a huge part of the nation, with the worst part being from Santiago and south,” said Rafael Fuentes, the coordinator of the Operation Christmas Child leadership team in Chile. “Many houses, buildings, bridges, and roads were destroyed. The situation in Concepcion and surrounding areas is very bad with no water, food, or fuel. Because of the lack of electricity, grocery stores, gas stations, and telecommunications are not working.”

Samaritan's Purse , Chile , Emergency Relief , Chile Earthquake