Practical Information about the Earthquake in Chile (Port and Airport)

Airport of Santiago and Port of Valparaiso does not provide up to date information about their status. Lan Airlines have more complete information in spanish and english.
- General Situation: It is really serious in the area around Concepción (second most important city after Santiago), but Valparaiso it is very calmed (we will try to upload a video of the street situation). In most of the city (not all) there in water, electricity, Internet and supermarkts and stores are open.
- Arrival of Princess on March 2 and 4th, 2010: Arrived safe to the port of Valparaiso left passengers (many going to the border with Argentina and/or Hotels in Santiago; left the pier at 3:30 PM. It is going to stay in Valparaíso until thursday midday. We are trying to confirm embarcation dates and time. At his moment it is in the bay. Princess. Accordingly to Cruise Critic "announced today that Star Princess' next departure from Valparaiso, Chile has been delayed until Thursday. The line hopes the delay will give passengers flying into the nearby Santiago Airport -- operating on a very limited basis after suffering damage in Saturday's 8.8-magnitude earthquake -- additional time to reach the ship. The 109,000-ton, 2,600-passenger Star Princess arrived safely in Valparaiso earlier this morning. Although the Santiago Airport has been partially reopened for the past two days, it is still not nearly operating at full capacity, and Princess will hold the ship -- originally scheduled to depart today -- until noon on Thursday."
I personally confirmed with the operator Stephanie that passengers wanting to board Princess must to be at the cruise terminal in Valparaiso any time between 08:00 and 10:00 on Thursday March 7th, 2010.
- Valparaiso Cruise Terminal: It is fully operative.
- The City of Valparaiso: There is some limited damages in some areas of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar (4 building losts). Stores and supermarkets are open from sunday afternoon. We can upload later videos of Valparaíso
- Connection by road Santiago - Valparaiso: All it is normal.
- Santiago Airport: Video of the airport. From friday March 5th, it will begin to landing and departures as usual. The airport suffered damages in the terminal, but the landing strips are in good condition. The first international flighst arrived on sunday afternoon. Passengers are processed (customs, immigration) now in Santiago, under a tent. If you already hired a transportation service to Valparaiso, try to call and provide any information you get to the people that will wait for yours. The official and tragically funny (it links to the duty free shop) information only available in the spanish and not the english version of their website says "Official Information from SCL: SCL informs that due to the strong earthquake that affected the country during the early morning of saturday, the flight operations in the Airport of Santiago are restricted. For any information, the passengers must to contact their respective airline".
- Airlines In Chile:

- Delta (200-2700 in Santiago and 800-202-020 other cities), flights arriving and departing from Santiago are suspended at least for 1st, 2nd of March 2010; earthquake in Chile.
- American Airlines ((2) 679-0000 in Santiago, more contact details here) flights from and to Chile has been canceled for the monday 1st of March, check the status of your flight; details.
- Lan Airlines: All domestic itineraries, within Chile, and International, to and from Santiago de Chile, until Thursday, March 4th, 2010 (inclusive), will be modified. Ver complete information in english and spanish. Contact in spanish (600-526-2000) and english
- Canadian Airlines: "Flights to/from Santiago, Chile cancelled due to airport closure. February 27, 2010 -- Due to the closure of Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile as a result of the recent earthquake, Air Canada has suspended service until further notice. To facilitate changes to bookings for customers travelling to and from Santiago, Chile (SCL) until March 2, 2010, Air Canada has implemented a flexible booking policy allowing these customers to change their travel dates without penalty for travel within the next 30 days.  Customers holding tickets for cancelled flights may also request a refund or credit towards future travel. Customers wishing to make changes to their bookings may contact Air Canada Reservations toll free in Canada and the U.S. at 888-247-2262; TTY: 1-800-361-8071 or Air Canada Reservations worldwide In Chile Tel.: 800 400 142 (toll free, 24 hours a day), Air Canada Reservations, Avda. Andres Bello 2687. Piso 16, Las Condes, Santiago, hours of operation Mon. - Fri. 09.00 - 17.30Flight Arrivals & Departures Tel.: 800 400 142 (toll free, 24 hours a day). Air Canada recommends customers check their Flight Status, or call Air Canada's automated flight information system at 1-888-422-7533 prior to leaving for the airport."

- What to do in a Earthquake: If you are in Valparaiso or Chile during an earthquake, just look at a chilean nearby and do what they do. The account of dead in Chile it is (2 PM chilean time) it is 723, 16 in the region of Valparaiso (including 10 in Robinson Crusoe Island and only 3 in the city of Valparaíso).
- Oficina Nacional de Emergencia (equiv. to FEMA). Only in spanish language. Check "Situación Regional".

For additional information call us to (801) 649-5610. We are in Valparaiso (Chile).