Update: Earthquake In Chile

Not a great way to start your weekend, but warnings have been issued to Japan, New Zealand, Hawaii, South America, and Russia after Chile was been hit by an earthquake of 8.8 magnitude yesterday. The quake was one of the top 7 of all time, according to a U.S. Geological Survey. With many resources still tied up in Haiti, how will the government respond to the latest natural disaster?

EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva gave an official statement this morning:

“I have been following the news of the large earthquake off Chile overnight. I want to first offer my condolences to the families of those who have been effected by this natural disaster.”

“I have immediately activated the Crisis Room at the Commission’s Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), which is working with the European Union’s delegation in Santiago. I have mobilized ECHO humanitarian experts to undertake urgent needs assessments if required.

ECHO has a regional office in Managua as well as offices in Bogota and Quito. The Monitoring and Information Centre is further assessing the situation and the Commission stands ready to provide immediate assistance and coordinate European efforts should that be required”.

So far the death toll has reached 78 people and is expected to rise, with many more injured. Easter Island and surrounding areas are being evacuated today as residents fear both aftershocks and the giant storm brought on by an earthquake of this magnitude. The tsunami is now radiating off of the Pacific and moving closer to areas of land, including Hawaii and New Zealand. The latter in particular is expecting walls of water up to 10-feet high, and are also issuing warnings to residents to go further inland.

American tourist and eyewitness Ronald Scott was on the phone with Meredith Vieira on Good Morning America this morning to speak about the experience.

CNN is currently deploying their news team to the region, including Soledad O’Brien and Dan Simon.