<<<背景介绍

       因为震中附近的塔尔卡医院大楼被判定为危房，医务人员只能在停车场上救治灾民。其他医院也都遭到了破坏。巴切莱特总统称，军方将设立野战医院来救治伤员。

       在新闻发布会上，巴切莱特总统呼吁电力公司加紧工作，迅速修复网络，以便恢复各项服务，使国家尽快恢复元气。她说：“我们首先需要的是电力。手机通讯、医疗护理和供水都依靠它。”

    A magnitude-8.8 temblor rocked Chile last Saturday morning, killing at least 700 persons and rendering more than two million people homeless. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called the damage “an emergency unparalleled in the history of Chile.” 

    Police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse hundreds of people who forced their way into shuttered shops in the southern city of Concepción, where damage was substantial. Law enforcement authorities, heeding the cries of residents that they lacked food and water, eventually settled on a system that allowed staples to be taken but not televisions and other electronic goods.

    Ms. Bachelet announced that the government had reached a deal with supermarket chains to give away food to needy residents. Her aides also called on residents not to horde gas or food, both of which were being bought up in huge amounts by residents fearful of shortages.

    In Cobquecura, 50 miles to the north of Concepcion, state television showed collapsed bridges, crashed buses and sunken pavement. Residents had fled to the hills, prompting local journalists to declare it a virtual ghost town.

    In remote coastal towns, strong waves had obliterated homes and boats were found on land parked next to overturned cars. The authorities acknowledged that the damage was spread over such a vast area that they were just beginning to get a handle on it.

    Early Sunday, a 6.1-magnitude aftershock sent residents scrambling for cover. With the earth still unsettled, many Chileans have opted to camp outside.