Fear, despair haunt Chile coast

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Barely a building remains standing in this once-pleasant beach resort that slopes up from Chile’s Dichato Bay, a scenic cove largely shielded from the open Pacific.

The row of eateries and bars that once lined the shore are smashed to pieces. The central plaza is a pile of debris: splintered wood beams, bent metal roofs, dented gas tanks, fences, broken trees and kitchen appliances, among other objects. Fishing boats have been tossed a mile into town and beyond.

The magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile last week clearly caused a lot of damage, but here and in other coastal communities it was the ensuing tsunami that proved most destructive.

Residents in Dichato said the waves came ashore between the headlands over several hours, engulfing houses, boats, cars and everything else in their way.

Continue reading ‘Chile’s coast haunted by fear, desolation’ from Chris Kraul in Dichato.

RELATED:

Photos: 8.8 earthquake rocks Chile.