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[Gulliver]

I am back, from an earthquake, 8.8 in Richter scale.

Last staurday 27th february, in the morning, at 3:34 AM, i was surfing Amiga related websites, my wife was playing on Facebook, both on our netbooks, in bed, while hearing some music on cable TV.
That 27th february was a special day for me, it was my 32nd birthday. A little bit earlier, about 00:10 my wife with my kids (I have a son of 3 and a daughter of 7) came to my bed with gifts and a candle for me to blow. I was so happy!
My kids went to bed, it was late! They fell asleep quickly.
My wife and I, stood awake, we decided to stay up a bit longer because we werent going out to entertain ourselves like we usually do (disco dancing, restaurant dinner, watching a movie, etc).
So back to the story, at 3:34 AM, the earth started to shake.
We are used to small sismic activity here in Chile, once or twice a month, nothing important, and then slightly noticeable.
But this time, it was different. The small sismic activity did not decrease after a few seconds, and that was weird. I told my wife about it and we both litteraly jumped from bed. As we allways planned, she went straight to the main door, opened it and stood still under the door frame. I rushed to my kids room, quickly and firmly grabbed them both while they were asleep and stopped under the frame of their bedroom door.
The earth was shaking much more violently than before, still it was bareable. Lights wen off. My kids woke up and understood it was a critical situation. I was holding them both firmly. My son cried to me:"Daddy, please hold me tighter". The earthquake was revealing itself, everything was noisy. I hugged both my kids, and told them in a very secure and firm voice that i loved them so much. Everything was falling inside the house, i could barely stand still. The furniture was alive and the floor seemed like a wavy sea. I was ready to die.
I dont know how much that earthquake lasted, but for me it was like eternity.
But like all bad things, the earthquake ended.
And then I understood that this birthday was special, and that I was given the best of gifts: The life of my entire family!!!

So, here in Chile is now monday 4:10 AM. We have just got electricity, internet and phone back. I am gratefull we survived, our house is in good shape and we dont have any food or water problems. Still the earth shakes every hour or so.

I logged in at Amiga.org and just wanted to thank we are alive!

[motorollin]

What a terrifying story. You are indeed lucky to have your family with you, and they are lucky to have such a loving father and husband. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that my thoughts are with you and with those in Chile who were not as lucky as you.

--
moto

[Gulliver]

Thank you for your kind words. These are difficult times for many people over here.
Some families have dissappeared completely and can be assummed dead. Others are suffering terrible losses, injuries, and even the cold dark night, as their houses have collapsed.
I just wish this was just an awfull nightmare!

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Originally Posted by motorollin

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that my thoughts are with you and with those in Chile who were not as lucky as you.

--
moto

You indeed, are not.
@Gulliver I hope you'll find trust in the ground below your feet again soon.

[Gulliver]

Originally Posted by Speelgoedmannetje

I hope you'll find trust in the ground below your feet again soon.

I do hope that too. Thank you!

[KThunder]

its good to hear you're ok, i cant imagine an 8.8. i have a friend who has finally heard from all of his family in haiti.
it must be hectic to say the least.

[Karlos]

@Gulliver

It's a relief to hear you came through it. All I can do is repeat Motorollin's sentiments here.

[Gulliver]

@KThunder and @Karlos
I really apreciate your good feelings.
Here, aftershocks are making the labour of the rescue & search teams harder. The sismic activity is still very frequent and intensive (between 5 and 6 Richter scale). I hope they manage to save more people. The work of policemen and firefighters has been superb, well beyond the line of duty.

I cant help myself have these mixed emotions, being tremendously gratefull for my family and feeling a deep sorrow for everyone who is barely hanging on.
It is hard.

[adz]

Glad you're okay mate, thoughts have definately been with you guys ever since I heard the news of the quake and ensuing tsunami. Pretty terrifying stuff that I can't even imagine. I've only ever felt one tremor in my life and that was the result of a 4.6 magnitute quake roughly 150km southeast of me, that felt freaky enough and certainly made me skip a heartbeat. Best wishes to you all!

[cecilia]

The furniture was alive and the floor seemed like a wavy sea. .........
I dont know how much that earthquake lasted, but for me it was like eternity.

I know Exactly how you feel.
I experienced the 1994 LA quake. that 6.9 lasted 45 seconds and it was the longest 45 seconds I ever knew. My Amiga was bouncing up and down on the desk. It survived too. Those Amiga's are tough!

It took my a long time to get over that shock - I would jump everytime something shook.

As soon as I heard this was an 8.8 I just knew it was HUGE!
I know earthquakes that are 7 can last 2 minutes.

I'm very grateful you and your family came out of this ok.

[ElZorro]

It is all over the news lately. I do not like disasters . To many people dead, even if the authority corrects the numbers of victims to a smaller amount. Not to mention the tsunami with occured after.

Haïti turned also into a horrible place. But lately many disasters occure some many times all over the world.

I pray for the families who lost a dear relative or has to live out on the streets because they do not have a home anymore.

[Gulliver]

@adz and @cecilia
Thank you!
Earthquakes are the most terrifying experiences a human being can live. It is really difficult, there is no place to hide, nowhere to run, you just have to survive it, and this nearly allways happens, only by luck!

@ElZorro
Thank you for your prayers! It has been 6 days since the earthquake and the tsunami.
Today, in the morning firefighters rescued a little boy from the remains of a collapsed building, he was alive!

[the_leander]

Originally Posted by motorollin

What a terrifying story. You are indeed lucky to have your family with you, and they are lucky to have such a loving father and husband. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that my thoughts are with you and with those in Chile who were not as lucky as you.

THIS^^^^

Stay safe dude.

[Gulliver]

@the leander
Thank you!

[adz]

Unbelievable how powerful that quake really was:

Chile quake moved entire city 3 metres to west