Chilean president says 708 killed in quake

Chile president says 708 killed in quake

SANTIAGO, Chile — President Michelle Bachelet says that Chile’s earthquake killed at least 708 people — sharply increasing the known death toll.

The president tells a news conference that the country faces “a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort” for Chile to recover.

She spoke at a news conference Sunday after a six-hour meeting with aides and emergency officials coping with Saturday’s magnitude-8.8 quake.

Officials earlier said about 300 were known dead.