15K Homeless in Chile; Aid Starts

'People are pretty afraid' of aftershocks, aid worker says
By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2007 9:59 AM CST
15K Homeless in Chile; Aid Starts
Graciela Torres stands outside her earthquake damaged home in Tocopilla, Chile, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, a day after a 7.7 magnitude quake hit Chile. The powerful earthquake hammered the country's north on Wednesday, killing at least two people and injuring more than 150. (AP Photo/Roberto Candia)   (Associated Press)

Thousands of Chileans spent the night in the streets after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake left at least 15,000 homeless, and damaged schools and gyms that might have served as shelters. But aid began arriving today, Reuters reports, as crews navigated treacherous road to bring food, water, and tents to the country's battered north. Electricity was still largely out, and copper mines were operating on generators.

Aid workers driving towards Tocopilla, where at least 1,200 homes were leveled, told CNN there was no electricity and that landslides were covering the roads in places. "People are pretty afraid. There have been so many aftershocks ... the ground starts moving and people start to run away," said an aid worker. The government reports two deaths and at least 100 injuries. (More Chile stories.)

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