First News Children's Newspaper - Official Site > News > Family survives the Haiti then the Chile earthquakes

World News

Monday, 8 March 2010

Family survives the Haiti then the Chile earthquakes - watch the video!

Are the Desarmes blessed or cursed having escaped bot the Haiti and the Chile earthquakes?

After the Haiti earthquake - which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, Pierre Desarmes moved his parents and extended family out of dangerous Port-au-Prince to his home in Chile.

But less than one month later a devastating 8.8 earthquake hit Chile on February 28 - 800 times more powerful than Haiti's 7.0 earthquake in January.

"I left my country and came here because of an earthquake.. And here, the same thing!" said Seraphin Philomene, a 21-year-old student and cousin of Pierre Desarmes' cousin.

Luckily, none of his family was hurt in either earthquake.

Pierre Desarmes, who is a singer in a Haitian band in Chile, was able to use his contacts at the Chilean Embassy in Port-au-Prince and the Chilean armed forces to bring nine members of his family - his parents, two brothers, nephews and nieces, sisters-in-law, and three cousins to Chile.

Get the Flash Player to see this video!