Michelle Bachelet news stories on Newser

Chile Cans Official Who Blew Tsunami Alerts

Will McCahill — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:40:00 CST

The official whose agency failed to send out a nationwide tsunami alert following last Saturday’s earthquake was fired today by the Chilean government, the BBC reports. “An error in diagnosis” by Mariano Rojas and others in the naval oceanographic service resulted in many unnecessary deaths, experts say; Rojas is also...

Aftershocks Rock Chile

Nick McMaster — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:52:00 CST

Aftershocks continue to hit southern Chile a week after the earthquake that killed hundreds and set off deadly tsunamis. Tremors up to a magnitude of 6.6 are terrifying residents of the city of Concepcion and the surrounding areas. "It was terrible," one resident told Reuters . "The three aftershocks that...

Another Big Aftershock Rocks Chile

Will McCahill — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:49:57 CST

A 6.1-magnitude aftershock struck Chile in the past hour, further jangling nerves on a day when the government mistakenly issued tsunami warnings for coastal areas still sorting out the effects of last week’s 8.8 earthquake. President Michelle Bachelet took to the airwaves today to reassure the nation, the...

Clinton Arrives in Chile, Promises Help

Kevin Spak — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:24:09 CST

Hillary Clinton arrived in Chile today, embracing president Michelle Bachelet and promising assistance. The US is already preparing to send water purification units, temporary bridges, a field hospital, and medical supplies, the secretary of state said. She delivered 25 satellite phones intended to help coordinate relief efforts. “We’ll be here...

Chile President : Quake Toll at 708

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:03:09 CST

President Michelle Bachelet says that Chile's earthquake killed at least 708 people—sharply increasing the known death toll from about 300. The president tells a news conference that the country faces "a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort" for Chile to recover. The announcement...

8.8 Quake Rocks Central Chile

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:19:00 CST

One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Chile early today, toppling homes, collapsing bridges, and plunging trucks into the fractured earth. A tsunami set off by the magnitude-8.8 quake threatened every nation around the Pacific Ocean—roughly a quarter of the globe. At least 214 people were killed,...

Chilean Volcano Keeps Rumbling

Nick McMaster — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:53:28 CDT

The southern Chilean town of Chaiten has been totally evacuated after a volcano, active since Friday, belched molten lava and ash more than 12 miles high, the AP reports. Around 4,000 people have already left the area since the volcano—believed dormant for thousands of years—began acting up,...

Major Aftershocks Rock Chile

Kevin Spak — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:50:00 CST

Northern Chile trembled again today as two strong aftershocks jolted through the region, Reuters reports. No casualties were immediately reported in the wake of the tremors—which registered 6.2 and 6.8, respectively, according to the US Geological Survey—near the mining center of Antofagasta, but residents and emergency...

Latinas Lead New Revolución

Sam Gale Rosen — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:30:00 CST

Latin America is hardly crying for Argentines who elected Cristina Fernández de Kirchner president as the latest in the region's new wave of female leaders. Voters in countries still emerging from dictatorships and financial ruin are looking for new politicians, reports the NY Times , and Kirchner's election follows that of...