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The Salvation Army Carolinas Division Carolinas Division » News » Chilean Earthquake

The Salvation Army Responds in Chile

Salvationists in Chile Following Earthquake

UPDATE #1: Read Details from Lt. Col. Brad Bailey, Chief Secretary for The Salvation Army in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.  via CNN.

UPDATE #2: See Photos of Salvation Army responders during the first night following the quake.

UPDATE #3: View a clip from "A Life Saving Army" featuring The Salvation Army's work in Chile.

Following a devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile during the early hours of Saturday morning (27 February), Salvation Army Emergency Services in Chile were immediately mobilized to provide support and comfort. International financial assistance is already on the way. The Salvation Army has had a presence in Chile since 1909 and today offers social services including hospitals, schools for impoverished children and adult rehabilitation.

To support its relief efforts in Chile, The Salvation Army has already established a text-to-give program that works on all major cell-phone carriers within the United States. This number is for people who want to give a small amount quickly.

According to Ginny Edwards of the Mobile Giving Foundation, “By texting the word "CHILE" to 52000 via a mobile phone, a micro-donation of $10 can be made to aid the people affected by this tragedy. 100% of your donation goes to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts in Chile, and the donation appears as a charge on your carrier bill, standard rates may apply.”

The earthquake epicenter was approximately 90 miles North west of the city of Concepción in Southern Chile. This is approximately 350 miles from the capital of Santiago. Nevertheless, according to officials on the ground, the quake was of a 7.0 magnitude in the Santiago metropolitan region. People have flocked to the streets as numerous aftershocks continue to pummel the country, severely affecting older buildings in the more historical areas of the larger cities.

A vital part of The Salvation Army initial relief effort in Chile involves the use of a mobile canteen, which was donated by The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory and arrived in Chile only recently.The earthquake epicentre was approximately 90 miles (150 kilometres) north west of the city of Concepción in Southern Chile. Lieut-Colonel Bailey says that this is approximately 350 miles (600 kilometres) from the capital of Santiago, 'nevertheless, the quake was of a 7.0 magnitude in the Santiago metropolitan region'. He adds that people have flocked to the streets 'as numerous aftershocks continue to pummel' the country, severely affecting older buildings in the more historical areas of the larger cities.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.  Please pray for the people of Chile and all of the emergency responders who are on scene or en route. 

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org

Last updated: 1:08 PM - Tuesday, March 09, 2010