Students Speak to Family in Chile

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A metro Detroit man is getting his first look at what's left of his home town in Chile. Friends and family there are living through the aftermath of one of the world's largest earthquakes. He's been reaching out, trying to learn as much as possible about his friends and relatives in the battered country.

A local Chilean student from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has family back in Chile. She spoke with her mother Sunday on the phone and says they are doing all right. Unfortunately, it's a different story across that nation, especially in the southern part where homes are broken.

The pictures are from a world away, but for metro Detroit residents such as Maite Zubiya, it is close to her heart.

"It's heartbreaking," said Zubiya. "It's painful."

Pain quelled by being able to help. She's linked up to a Web site. In Spanish, it says, "The earth moved and so now it's your turn to move." She's hoping people will donate to help rebuild homes. (Click here to visit the Web site)

"This is one of the biggest and main charity organizations from Chile. They build houses for poor people... in Chile or outside Chile. They were helping Haiti like until three days ago," Zubiya said.

Wayne State University graduate student Claudio Villalobos Dintrans was finally able to speak to his parents late this weekend. They are also all right. His friends and family e-mailed him pictures of his home town of Rancagua, eighty miles south of Santiago, and of nearby towns of Talca and Pichilemu. Dintrans recognizes well landmarks he used to frequent that are now destroyed.

"It hits really hard when you start recognizing the places that you used to go to, the places that (you) used to see during your whole life," said Dintrans.

He says growing up in Chile earthquakes were common. We have tornado drills. They have earthquake drills.

"You have to build your house and buildings under the assumption that they have to withstand something like a... seven-something earthquake. The buildings might get cracked, but they won't collapse," Dintrans said.