Chile

Chile... You may have heard about this country but if not here is a little insight for you.

A place where a reconstructed economy is one of the fastest growing in this world. This country is located along the Pacific coast of South America. Almost half of the population of Chile lives in its capital. Chile is also the world's larges copper producer. They also have other industries very important among the country such as; salmon farming, viniculture and agriculture.

On Feb. 27, 2010 an earthquake with a magnitude-8.8 struck the country. This quake was said to be one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history. Aftershocks are still taking place among cities being damaged along the coastline. These devastations are still damaging and occuring almost a week later. It was hard for rescue workers to reach places the earthquake damaged due to fallen telephone lines, bridges and roads that had been destroyed.

Doctors warn that the big pile of debris and wreckage and the gross amount of rotting fish leave Chile a huge place for infection. A vaccination campaign was started and Chileans were given hepatitus and tetnus shots. Cases of diarrhea were being reported and growing increasingly because of the unclean drinking water and patients that had been wading through the mess and debris left in Chile.

Looting of pharmacies hasn't helped the country either. It makes getting medicines to the sick seem impossible. This goes along with the 36 hospitals that were also heavily damaged in the wreck of the quake. Military and cilvilian field hospitals were still operating and trying to help out as much as they could.

The official death toll right now is about 452 but many people are still missing. The country stated that it needs water, electric systems and a functioning sewage system.

Learning of all these things makes me nervous of every trying to live along a coast or areas of large percent chances of being struck by earthquakes or tsunamis. Everything happens so fast, you don't even have time to prepare or protect yourself. I would hope that other countries could help the ones that survived in Chile. They need everyones help and support right now, and again, what comes around goes around. Helping others in their time of need could mean when you need help some one will be there. And helping out others always is just a simple and great thing to do as a person.