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Confusion, frustration: Chilean soldiers patrol the streets to quell looting
Reports from Chile's second-largest city, Concepcion, describe it as a battle zone in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit the country.
The death toll from the magnitude 8.8 quake is above 700, with coastal Concepcion one of the worst hit.
The city of 700,000 people was closest to the epicentre of the quake and the damage has been extensive, with electricity and water still out and several shops on fire.
Looters are stealing food, water and clothing from nearby stores despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew and the presence of thousands of troops.
Concepcion mayor Jacqueline Van Ryselberghe voiced the frustration many are feeling.
"We need the military on the streets, we need them," she said.
"The general population just doesn't know what to do. Business owners are starting to defend themselves, they are starting to arm themselves."
Rescue workers are still picking through the debris to reach survivors and in one apartment block they could hear knocking from inside the collapsed walls.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is expected to arrive tomorrow in Santiago on a previously planned trip to Latin America, with the city still experiencing aftershocks from the quake.
Aid is coming in from around the world, including Australia, which has offered $1 million initially in emergency assistance and another $4 million for reconstruction.
Authorities in Chile have set up shuttle flights between the capital, Santiago and Concepcion and are expecting to deliver more than 100 tonnes of food aid in the next few hours.
Terrifying aftershocks
There are about 400 Australians in Chile, with many working for local companies. Most of them live near Santiago - 400 kilometres from the epicentre - but even there the experience has been frightening.
Eye witness Amy Yacoub's husband Simon works for engineering company SKM, and she was asleep on the 13th floor of her building when the quake struck.
"The buildings are all structured and designed to separate and move apart in an earthquake, so we did watch a wall open up in front of us and that was a bit terrifying," she said.
"Then, with the aftershocks that have been rolling through, they are quite nerve-wracking and fortunately we have had nothing like we had.
"I think they reported it was about an 8.0 in Santiago, so we are still having aftershocks that can be up to 6.0.
"Generally we can hear more plaster coming off our walls and then for us, because we are a little bit higher, we get the swaying motion ... our building sways.
"People are very concerned and still trying to get in contact with a lot of family members and friends in Concepcion, because telephone lines aren't working or communication isn't open everywhere.
"Even in Santiago some people are still without power and communication."
Ms Yacoub's friend Kate Lewin lives above her on the 20th floor, and described the experience as "terrifying".
"It happened so quickly that you actually don't have time to be scared, but I just flew into protective mode," she said.
"We have got three-year-old twin girls and I just raced to their room, got them together in one bed and put pillows over our head and just thought this is it - whatever it may be. I just thought this was it."
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