An earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale hit Chile at 0634UTC today (27th February). Information is now being received that the local emergency communications group "Red Chilena Nor Austral de Servicio (RECNA)" is active and some emergency communications activities are taking place, mostly with Argentina. Jorge Sierra, LU1AS who is the IARU-R2 Area Emergency Co-Ordinator is asking that the following frequencies are kept clear;

7095, RECNA Control Station Emergency Traffic has also been heard on 7050, 7060 and 7095 with stations trying to contact Chile seeking information about people.

Chile is also known to use the following frequencies for emergency communication;
3750, 3738, 7050, 7095, 14200, 14350, 21200, 21350, 28300, 28500kHz.

Stations have also been calling into the Maritime Mobile Service Net on 14300 so it would also be useful to keep this and other IARU Region 2 and Region 3 Centre of Activity frequencies clear in case other countries become involved, these are;

Region 2 3750, 3785, 7060, 7240, 7290, 14300, 18160, 21360
Region 3 3600, 7110, 14300, 18160, 21360

The frequency list is quite extensive but the priority is to keep the 20, 40 and 80m frequencies clear where there is known emergency activity.