Curfew in quake-hit towns

* Death toll surges over 700, likely to rise

* Tsunamis devastate coastal communities

CHILE: Chile’s government scrambled on Monday to provide aid to thousands of homeless in coastal towns devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunamis as 10,000 troops moved into stricken areas to quell looting.

The government sharply raised the death toll to 711 from Saturday’s 8.8 magnitude quake as harrowing scenes of destruction emerged in isolated towns swamped by the giant waves that were triggered by one of the strongest earthquakes in a century.

A night-time curfew went into effect in the Maule region and the heavily damaged town of Concepcion, where hundreds of looters ransacked stores for food and other goods. Looting also broke out in parts of the capital, Santiago.

In Concepcion, angry survivors camping along roads took out their frustration on firefighters who were distributing drinking water in thermoses and tea kettles, damaging their vehicles.Chile’s biggest copper mines affected by the quake slowly resumed operations, but analysts said limited power supplies could curtail exports and push up copper prices further. Santiago’s airport started to receive international flights, which had been suspended after the quake. Officials said the runways were unscathed but the terminal building was damaged.

Concepcion, Monday, Reuters