Pepperdine students around the world are reeling in the effects of the massive earthquake that struck Chile early Saturday morning killing an estimated 147 people in the port city of Concepcion.
The magnitude 8.8 quake which hit 60 miles offshore of Concepcion was felt in South American cities including Buenos Aires where students in Pepperdine’s international program were preparing to board a flight to Santiago Chile for their spring break trip.
Rafael DeSanzo the Buenos Aires program director confirmed that Pepperdine students who had planned on traveling today are safe and remain in Buenos Aires.
“The students were supposed to go for spring break to Chile he said, but they were supposed to leave today from Buenos Aires at 5:30 p.m. [Argentina Time]. The earthquake took place about that time so they never left. So there is not a single student in Chile.”
But despite Pepperdine students’ fortune DeSanzo emphasized the devastation blanketing the region.
“It’s horrible he said. More than a hundred people died and it’s 8.8— and it’s the worst earthquake in the history of Chile.
“Everyone is fine [here] we’re just praying for the people in Chile.”
Another spring break destination is also feeling the earthquake’s effects. Hawaii has already been hit by earthquake-generated waves topping out at 6 feet.
Pepperdine seniors Daniel Polk and J.J. Starr who arrived in Hawaii for their spring break trip early this morning kept their family and friends updated via Twitter updates.
One post from Polk read: “Who needs an alarm clock. Hawaii just woke us up with sirens.”
Starr reflected the chaos writing “1st day in Hawaii woken up to tsunami sirens. now having to evacuate! crazy.”
A later update from Starr at about 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) described Hawaiians’ response to the pending weather conditions.
“gas station and grocery store lines are nuts! good thing the starbucks line is just ‘medium’ he wrote.
The earthquake’s repercussions are being felt closer to home, as well.
A tsunami advisory is in effect for the California coast by the National Weather Service (NWS).
Though the NWS encouraged surfers and California commuters to stay away from beaches, the organization reported virtually no damage after the first tsunami waves hit Santa Monica around 12:30 p.m. PST.
Relief organizations, including the American Red Cross, WorldVision and Habitat for Humanity, have already mobilized to produce aid for Chile, where damage from the earthquake and as many as 30 aftershocks is extensive.
