I am in Buenos Aires right now, so I missed the earthquake in Chile. I know what the rest of the world knows about the quake — which is to say was almost nothing in the beginning and more as the days go along. I had a “we’re ok” email from my friends who live in a skyscraper in Santiago. I still can’t reach them by phone.
This morning I had an email from the iEARN coordinator for Chile saying that he and his family are okay. They live in Temuco, in the south, somewhat near Concepción, which was near the epicenter.
I am assuming that my presentations will go on as scheduled, at least in Arica and Antofogasta, which are in the north and away from the destruction. They are scheduled for March 8-11. My final lecture will be in Santiago on March 15. By then, I assume electricity and transportation will be somewhat working again.
But of course, I’m just guessing, The answer about whether or not the presentations will continue is probably still up in the air. (Pun) Today is the first day since the quake that is a workday. I read the airport has a lot of damage to the terminal. I don’t know when flights will begin to land there. My assumption is that flights will resume quickly because the Chileans are very efficient.
In the meantime, I leave this morning for Mendoza, Argentina, which is directly over the Andes from Santiago, and has been destroyed five times by quakes (mostly recently 1862.) Yesterday the BA Herald said that hotels in Mendoza evacuated during the strong tremors. I have a tour into the Andes scheduled. I wonder if that will be cancelled. Aftershocks in Santiago were near 7 on Saturday. That’s very strong.