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Earthquake in Chile

An earthquake occurred in the coast of the Maule Region of Chile on February 27, 2010, at 03:34 local time, rating a magnitude of 8.8 lasting nearly four minutes.

At least 528 people killed, many injured and at least 500,000 houses damaged by the earthquake and tsunami in the Concepcion-Valparaiso area. Felt in much of Chile and Argentina. Also felt in parts of Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. A Pacific-wide tsunami was generated and caused minor damage to boats and a dock in the San Diego area, California.

Nearly half the regions in the country were declared "catastrophe zones", and curfews were imposed in some areas of looting and public disorder. The police were forced to shoot into the air in order to disperse mobs which, again, were stealing both necessities such as food and water and durable goods such as electronic devices and home appliances.

Earthquake in Haiti

A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.0, devastated Haiti on Jan. 12, reducing much of the capital Port-au-Prince to rubble. The death toll is expected to reach tens of thousands, while badly injured survivors roam the streets in search of much-needed help.

According to official estimates, 222,570 people killed, 300,000 injured, 1.3 million displaced, 97,294 houses destroyed and 188,383 damaged.

Appeals for humanitarian aid were issued by the government of Haiti and many aid organizations. The humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake included national governments, charitable and for-profit organizations from around the world which began coordinating humanitarian aid designed to help the Haitian people

Figure: Earthquake aftermath in Haiti
[Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake]