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Weston Wood Solutions

News

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EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE
As you know, Chile was hit Saturday morning on February 27th with one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. Although structures in Santiago, its capital, were largely able to hold up to this violent quake, many towns outside of Santiago have been levelled both by the earthquake and then by the tsunamis that followed.

In the coastal towns, homes that stood along the beach have been swept away by the sea, some with entire families inside them. Those that remain are wiped them clean of all their contents, their roofs, their windows and their doors. Two million people have been left homeless by this disaster that also took the lives of more than 700 people.

The pictures in our gallery were taken by our colleague Mauricio Bravo who was in Concepcion at the time of the earthquake. They show some of the huge damages and losses. Thankfully Mauricio’s immediate family is all ok but life for the next several months is going to be very difficult.

Although many of the sawmills and millwork plants have not been badly damaged, the infrastructure of roads, bridges, ports are all in need of major repair. In addition, the curfew and strong aftershocks make it dangerous for workers to return and perform needed repairs and clean-up.

Raw material supply has been further affected by the loss of key co-generation plants. Costs are climbing rapidly as mills switch to more expensive sources of power and trucks have to take long detours.

Chileans are a proud and strong people. They've been hit before and have risen from the rubble, but they need our help. The Chilean embassies in Canada and the US have set up bank accounts for donations: ( www.chile.ca , www.chile-usa.org )

IN CANADA: Scotiabank Account No 40006 01408 13 Account Name: Embassy of Chile - Earthquake Relief Fund

IN THE US: Bank of America No 226000255231 Account Name: Chile Earthquake Relief Fund

Your donations will feed and clothe people who have been left with nothing, they will rebuild the homes of those who lost everything, and the bridges that connect rural Chile to the rest of the world, so much needed aid can be transported to them. Thank you for your generosity.

Inside the house, right after the earthquake

Inside the house, right after the earthquake

Old bridge over Bio Bio River

Old bridge over Bio Bio River

Road along side the river

Road along side the river

Road along side the river

Road along side the river

Bridge shifted up and to the right

Inside the house, right after the earthquake

University building destroyed by fire

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

Concepcion down town

New office building downtown, 11th floor completely collapsed

Old part of Concepcion

Old part of Concepcion

The only building that collapsed in Concepcion

The only building that collapsed in Concepcion

The only building that collapsed in Concepcion

Damaged bridges and roads

Damaged bridges and roads

Damaged bridges and roads

Damaged bridges and roads

Damage to new bridge over Bio Bio river

Looting at the supermarket

Damage to new apartments

Typical damage inside buildings

Guarding the plaza

Lining up for gas, taking by hand from the storage tanks

Old bridge over Bio Bio River

Residential damage

Residential damage

Lining up for gas

Blockades by residents to protect their neighbourhoods

Blockades by residents to protect their neighbourhoods

Blockades by residents to protect their neighbourhoods

Blockades by residents to protect their neighbourhoods

Lining up for gas

Lining up for gas

Main highway from Concepcion to Santiago

Main highway from Concepcion to Santiago

Main highway from Concepcion to Santiago

Main highway from Concepcion to Santiago

Main highway from Concepcion to Santiago