Taipei, March 2 (CNA) Six Taiwanese expatriates in the central Chilean city of Concepcion were safe after a devastating magnitude 8.8 quake struck the country Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.
Three of the six Taiwanese in Concepcion, which has a population of about 1 million and is located about 115 kilometers from the quake epicenter, could not be reached immediately after the temblor due to communications breakdown, but they have now all been confirmed safe, MOFA spokesman Henry Chen said.
"Two staff members from the MOFA's office in Chile, carrying food and water, drove for eight hours from Santiago to Concepcion and got in touch with all their compatriots there, Chen said. "They are all safe." According to the MOFA, there are 1,300 Taiwan nationals in Chile and most live in the Santiago area some 300 kilometers north of Concepcion. Internet and phone communications were still down in Santiago, the MOFA said.
According to news reports out of Chile, the death toll from the quake as of Tuesday was 723 and climbing. It is estimated that two million people have been displaced or otherwise affected by the disaster.
After the South American country decided Monday to accepting donations and foreign aid, the Taiwan government announced that it will donate US$200,000 for earthquake relief and said it stands ready to offer other humanitarian assistance if asked.
Meanwhile, a trade promotion group that was scheduled to arrive in Santiago March 24 as part of a South American tour will not cancel its visit, said the organizer of the trip, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).