CNN) -- A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, producing powerful aftershocks and triggering a tsunami.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located off the coast in Maule, near the city of Concepcion, 212 miles (341 kilometers) from the capital of Santiago. The quake struck at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. ET).
At least 47 people have been confirmed dead, according to government officials, with the death toll expected to rise.
Concepcion is Chile's second largest city with a population of 200,000. There are reports of collapsed buildings in Santiago. The quake was felt in several Chilean towns and in parts of Argentina as well. Some buildings in Buenos Aires were evacuated.
'I lost count after 25 aftershocks!'
"This is a major event. This happened near some very populated areas," said Randy Baldwin, a geophysicist with USGS. "With an 8.8, you expect damage to the population in the area."


http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/27/chile.quake/index.html?hpt=T1

May God help them, and also help us to withstand our own imminent demo-political tsunami.