The medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is sending an expert  team to assess the needs of the survivors after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile early Saturday morning, causing serious damage in several areas of the country.

The MSF team including a doctor, a nurse and logisticians coming from Argentina, Bolivia and Panama is being deployed to Chile in order to better evaluate the needs of the population. The first group should arrive tonight to the capital of the country, Santiago de Chile, crossing through the neighbouring Argentine province of Mendoza.

For the moment, MSF doesn’t have further direct updates on the current situation in the most affected areas, but a staff member is already in Santiago compiling information.

Related News:

 Chile: MSF help the population overcome fear - 17.03.2010 14:25

 Earthquake in Chile: “Houses were literally swallowed by the tide” - 15.03.2010 10:26

 Chile: MSF supporting hospitals, organizing mobile clinics, sending more supplies by plane - 08.03.2010 16:09

 Chile: MSF assesses the situation in areas most affected by the earthquake  - 02.03.2010 16:47

 Chile: The first MSF team arriving in Chile - 28.02.2010 18:35