Chilean gov't calls for calm after strong magnitude-8.8 quake

One of the most powerful earthquakes in decades has struck Chile. The death toll at the moment has exceeded 300.

The Chilean government is calling for calm after the strong magnitude-8.8 quake, with emergency services doing all they can to help those affected.

The tremor rocked Chile early Saturday morning, toppling homes, collapsing bridges and plunging trucks into the fractured earth.

The epicenter was only some 100 kilometers from Concepcion, the country's second largest city. The capital Santiago, about 300 kilometers north of the epicenter, was also badly affected. Air travel has ground to a halt, as passenger terminals suffered major damage.

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet (R) talks with military personnel during a meeting at the National Emergency Bureau Ministry of the Interior in Santiago de Chile February 27, 2010. REUTERS/Chile Presidency/Handout