Chile Earthquake Relief

The Situation:

Less than two weeks after the strongest quake in over 50 years hit central Chile, an earthquake with a 7.2 magnitude again rocked Chile on March 11 with two major aftershocks recorded within 30 minutes. 

On February 27, the first quake hit at approximately 8:40 a.m. (cst) just as the new President, Sebastian Pinera, was about to be inaugerated. The second came 16 minutes later with a 6.7 magnitude and the third came at 27 minutes, measuring at 6.0.  Extensive damage was reported in the central Chilean city of Rancagua. Damage is still being assessed but injuries appear to be minimal at this time.

As a precaution, the national emergency authories placed a tsunami alert for the coastal area where the quakes hit.

ELCA Response:

Access the ELCA Disaster Response Blog page .

Read more detailed Situation Reports :
    Winter Solstice by Kate Lawler - 6/2010
    Faith & Solidarity in Chile by Kate Lawler - 6/2010
     Situation Report #9 (Final) - 6/16/2010
     Situation Report #8 - 5/6/2010
     Situation Report #7 - 4/22/2010
     Situation Report #6 - 4/8/2010
     Situation Report #5 - 4/1/2010 
     Situation Report #4 - 3/25/2010 
     Situation Report #3 - 3/18/2010 
     Situation Report #2 - 3/11/2010 
     Situation Report #1 - 3/4/2010 

The ELCA was in immediate contact with companions in Chile in support of their response. After the February 27 seismic event, the ELCA sent $40,000 in initial response to ELCA companions, IELCH, EPES, and the Inter-Church Emergency Committee Chile. Assessment continues and plans formulated for additional response efforts.

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile (Iglesia Evangelica Luterana en Chile - IELCH), a church that carries out its mission in the context of people living in situations of poverty and marginalization including work in Concepcion and Santiago.

• Educacion Popular en Salud (EPES) - With roots as an emergency response organization, EPES is now a leader for access and provision of systematic community health services.

Both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile and EPES are well located and equipped for this earthquake response.

What you can do:

Pray:

Download prayers and hymn suggestions  in response to the earthquake in Chile, including prayer petitions for Sunday worship.

Study and Share:

Share bulletin inserts with the members of your congregation to encourage prayers and gifts.
          bulletin insert 3/3/10    
          bulletin insert (Spanish)  3/3/10 

Give:

Gifts to ELCA Chile Earthquake Response help us to provide immediate and effective support to communities which are in need. Please consider giving to support the needs of this response and others like it.  Information on giving is provided in the box on the right "How You Can Help." 100% of your gift will be used in full to bring life sustaining support to this crisis. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Connect:

Subscribe to receive ELCA Disaster Response Alerts.

Return to Disaster Response Home Page