Chile earthquake deaths may hit 630

Chilean police say last month's magnitude 8.8 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami, may have claimed as many as 630 lives.

Authorities say, so far more than 500 corpses have been identified. But the government of President Sebastian Pinera, which took office on Thursday, has not published an official death toll.

The administration of former President Michelle Bachelet had initially pegged the death toll as above 800. But it lowered the estimate after discovering that some bodies had been counted twice.

Since then, officials have issued only the names of those who have been identified.

People search for salvageable items among the destruction left by a major earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Llolleo, March 3, 2010. REUTERS/Eliseo Fernandez