The government and Canadian Red Cross are involved in special efforts to help Chile and nearly 900 Canadians still located there, after the country was struck by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27.

The capital, Santiago, Chile’s second largest city, Concepcion, and remote areas were affected by the earthquake.

“We have been able to locate 520 Canadians in Chile and are actively trying to establish contact with 337 Canadians in the region who have not yet been located,” said Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs in a press release.

Christina Lopes, a Canadian Red Cross senior advisor located in Ottawa, told TheDailyPlanet.com that they have trained delegates including doctors and nurses on stand-by throughout Canada, in case more help is requested.

“There are no Canadian delegates in Chile because the country already has a large Red Cross and has been getting help from nearby countries. Other than the delegates on stand-by, we will support them with financial aid and also by sending over goods,” Lopes said.

Chile is still in the emergency response phase, said Lopes.

“It will take another 72 hours for our team to go out and assess the situation. Only after this will we be able to report on it. Chile has a long history of dealing with situations like this and the country is well-prepared. Chile has better infrastructure and better planning, that’s why it’s not another Haiti,” she said.

Toronto resident, Ximena Morris, has family and friends in Chile and said some have yet to confirm that they are safe.

“I know some people who were in the areas most affected by the earthquake and I haven’t heard from them. I did receive emails from family members after the earthquake. They told me they were safe but scared, the ground was shaking as they were writing to me,” Morris told TheDailyPlanet.com.

Members of the Chilean community in Toronto will be meeting on Mar. 3 at 6 p.m. at Toronto City Hall to discuss possible events and fundraisers they could hold to help the country, Morris said.

“It’s day four and thousands still haven’t gotten help,” she said.