Mar 03 2010
Chile Earthquake Update
After the huge 8.8 earthquake this past Saturday, February 27, we’d like to provide an update to those already traveling to Chile, or thinking about future Chile travel plans.
The main damage occurred near Concepcion in the Bio Bio Region (515 km south of Santiago), and in coastal regions where buildings are often wooden and more vulnerable.
Santiago sustained some damage, particularly to older buildings, but strict building codes, solid infrastructure and history of major seismic activity made Chile generally quite prepared to deal with the earthquake.
Santiago services and hotels are functioning normally. Southward from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas and including Torres del Paine National Park, everything is as normal. In the north, the Atacama Desert and tourist destinations like San Pedro de Atacama are undamaged. Other destinations like Easter Island, the lake crossing between Argentina and Chile, and the land route from Chile to Mendoza, Argentina are undamaged.
Vineyards and wineries outside Santiago have been temporarily closed.
The international airport was closed to outbound flights for several days. Today a contingency plan will allow for departing international travelers to use a temporary facility for check-in and immigration procedures; inbound domestic and international flights before March 5 will be directed to a domestic airport for immigration and customs. Flights arriving after March 5 will arrive to the regular Santiago Airport, and arrival procedures will take place in a temporary facility.
During the meeting, a contingency plan was submitted, which should be implemented in coordination with various agencies involved and agreed with the airlines for the purpose of generating the associated flight schedules.
The plan set out in two phases. The first from March 3rd to 5th, includes the use of a tent for the attention of passengers – not using the terminal building. With this facility and gradually, domestic flights will depart from 8:00 to 20:00 (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM) and international flights will depart from 20:00 to 8:00 (8:00 PM to 8:00 AM). This is only for departing flights, arrivals for both domestic and international flights will be via another sector.
All international flights arriving to Chile prior to March 5, will be scheduled to call at another domestic airport, designated to carry out immigration, SAG and Customs. Arriving flights after March 5 will arrive to the Santiago Airport and the arrival procedures will be performed at a tent located in the western part of the air terminal.
