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Chile Begins 3 Days of Mourning for Quake Victims

   VOA News 07 March 2010
   A  woman  sleeps  in  front  of  a  makeshift  camp  set by earthquake
   survivors in Concepcion, Chile, 05 Mar 2010

Photo: AP

   A  woman  sleeps  in  front  of  a  makeshift  camp  set by earthquake
   survivors in Concepcion, Chile, 05 Mar 2010

   Flags  will be lowered across Chile Sunday, marking the beginning of a
   three-day  period  of national mourning for the hundreds of victims of
   the country's massive earthquake.
   Officials  are  still  struggling  to establish an accurate death toll
   more  than  a week after the 8.8-magnitude quake and tsunami shattered
   central Chile.
   The  Chilean  government  has  changed  the  official number of people
   killed  by  the earthquake from more than 800 to 452.  Authorities now
   say  they  will add victims to the count only after their remains have
   been positively identified.
   The toll was revised after it was discovered that some people who were
   missing had been listed among the dead.
   Health  officials  in  Chile  have begun a vaccination program to help
   prevent  the  spread  of  disease, administering tetanus and hepatitis
   vaccine to those at risk in disaster zones.
   United  Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited survivors of the
   quake  Saturday.  At the site of a toppled apartment building, Mr. Ban
   said, "We are with you...our hearts are with you."
   As efforts continue to provide the basics to survivors of the quake, a
   charity telethon was broadcast to raise money for relief supplies.
   Some  of  Latin  America's  biggest  stars performed on the broadcast,
   which had a goal of raising more than $29 million.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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