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Valle Nevado ski resort was far enough to not be seriously damaged by the earthquake.
Last Saturday a massive earthquake struck just off the Chilean coast near Concepcion which is south of Santiago.
Santiago, located 310 miles north of the epicenter, suffered damage to some buildings, many of which were older structures located principally in the city’s downtown.
Fortunately, Valle Nevado ski area and the road that connects the resort to Santiago were not affected. Following an exhaustive inspection engineers found only a few minor cosmetic damages at Valle’s hotels and buildings.
The Santiago area, while impacted by the quake, experienced minor damage compared to the areas near the epicenter, and things are quickly returning to normal. Power and telecommunications have been nearly completely restored, and supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and shopping malls are opening today. The Santiago airport is operating again and should resume normal schedules by early next week.
According to Turismo Chile, the country’s tourism infrastructure has, overall, fared well, reporting little damage. Chile has a history of seismic activity and the country therefore has strict building codes; outside of the Concepcion and Maule regions there was relatively minor damage considering the force of the quake.
They say the international media has not well distinguished the affected regions of Chile, as the major damages have taken place 5 hours south of Santiago where, sadly, there were many deaths and displaced families. However, given its strong economy and fiscal discipline Chile has a tremendous revenue surplus to provide needed assistance. Chile is a modern country with a strong infrastructure, first-rate hospitals and emergency services, all of which have been credited for managing the situation and helping to minimize the damage.
“We can’t express enough our sadness for those who have suffered during this episode, says Valle Nevado General Manager Ricardo Margulis, “and we send our sincerest sympathies to those who have been affected the greatest in the southern regions of Chile.”
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