A 6.8-magnitude aftershock rattles ChileMarch 5, 2010 7:23 a.m. EST
Man survives tsunami in tree
NEW: Two strong aftershocks shake parts of Chile
Chilean government asks U.N. for field hospitals with surgical facilities, generators
Residents claim federal aid has been slow to arrive to quake-hit region
Death toll was revised downward after discrepancies over casualty count
Concepcion, Chile (CNN) -- Two strong aftershocks shook parts of Chile on Friday morning, hours before U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to meet with Chilean President Michele Bachelet and her successor.
An aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 struck about 8:47 a.m. Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. An earlier aftershock Friday had a magnitude of 6.3, the survey said.
The country is recovering from a massive earthquake last week -- the fifth strongest in about 100 years -- that toppled buildings, triggered a tsunami and killed several hundred people. Thousands were left homeless.
The situation remains critical in the hardest-hit areas.
Food, water and the restoring of basic services such as electricity are top priorities, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs.
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Chile
Earthquakes
Michelle Bachelet
Ban Ki-moon
The Chilean government, which is leading the rescue and relief efforts, has asked the United Nations for specific items -- field hospitals with surgical facilities, dialysis centers, generators, satellite phones, structural damage evaluation systems, saltwater purifying systems, mobile bridges and field kitchens.
Meanwhile, a 24-hour telethon, called "Chile Helps Chile," is slated for Friday. Organizers aim to raise $27 million to help quake victims.
Ban will meet with Bachelet and Sebastian Pinera, who takes office March 11 and has named six officials to lead recovery efforts.
"Our government will not be a government of the earthquake," Pinera said in a speech in which he named the six individuals. "Our government will be a government of reconstruction."
Ban also plans to visit the city of Concepcion, near the epicenter of the quake, to see the devastation.
Bachelet has dispatched more than 13,000 soldiers and other military personnel to restore order in the area. Food and water started to arrive late Tuesday in Concepcion, and officials said they distributed 3,500 aid packages on Wednesday. But many residents have complained that federal aid has been slow to arrive.
"Today, we have not received one measure of water from the National Emergency Office, understanding that there are some difficulties," said Eduardo Soto, mayor of nearby Rancagua in central Chile.
Bachelet toured parts of central and southern Chile on Thursday. She first visited the battered seaport of Talcahuano, where a quake-induced tsunami roared through many parts of the city. Bachelet also toured Talca, another devastated area.
"This is the time for action," she said on returning to the capital Thursday afternoon, where she met with leaders of the Catholic Church.
The church has been a partner in providing help in the quake's aftermath.
The top priority remained the needs of survivors, followed by reconstruction efforts, the president said.
Monsignor Alejandro Goic shared a note from Pope Benedict XVI, expressing sadness about the tragedy and supporting the Chilean people.
Chile has announced three days of national mourning starting Sunday. Every house has been authorized to hang the national flag in memory of those who perished.
The death toll was revised downward Thursday as authorities reviewed discrepancies in the reported number of dead in the Maule region.
The casualty count in Maule, originally reported at 587, included more than 200 people who are missing but not confirmed dead, said Deputy Interior Minister Patricio Rosende. Therefore, the official nationwide death toll is lower than the 802 figure given by emergency authorities.
To limit confusion, Rosende read aloud the names of 279 Chileans who had been killed and identified by Thursday evening. He said would update that official number regularly. The new tally does not account for hundreds of unidentified victims.
With disasters of this magnitude, "the number of dead change daily," Rosende said. "It takes months sometimes to compile the information, because one of the biggest problems in the affected areas is the lack of precision and uncertainty at the scene."
In other developments, the Chilean Davis Cup tennis team will open competition in Coquimbo, Chile, against Israel on Saturday instead of Friday. Team officials and players said they would be playing in honor of quake victims and that they hope to bring the country happiness.
"It will be difficult, but we will do our best for our country," said player Fernando Gonzalez.
Meanwhile, strong aftershocks posed new fears.
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit northern Chile, the opposite part of the country. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
A 4.9-magnitude aftershock struck near the already devastated Maule region about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It came hours after a 6.1-magnitude aftershock struck near Valparaiso, raising concerns that already vulnerable buildings could topple.
More than 120 aftershocks of 5.0 magnitude or greater have hit Chile since Saturday's earthquake, USGS geophysicist Don Blakeman said.
