Earthquake

The 40 retirees enjoying summer vacation at a seaside campground nestled under pine trees knew they had to move fast after Chile's powerful earthquake struck.They didn't make it. The tsunami came in three waves, surging 200 meters yards into this Pacific Ocean resort town and dragging away the bus they'd piled into, hoping to get to high ground.Chile's death toll reached 723, and most died in the wine-growing Maule region that includes Pelluhue.Survivors here found about 20 bodies, and an estimated 300 homes were destroyed.Destruction is widespread and food scarce all along the coast — in towns like Talca and Cauquenes, Curico and San Javier. In Curanipe, the local church served as a morgue. In Cauquenes, people quickly buried their dead because the funeral home had no electricity.