Chile raises toll from huge earthquake to 486 deaths, lowers number of missing to 79

Chile’s latest quake toll is 486 dead, 79 missing

SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile’s government has raised the number of confirmed deaths from the Feb. 27 earthquake and tsunami to 486. A report last week listed 432 dead.

A report released Wednesday by the Interior Ministry also lowers the number of missing to 79 from 98.

The 8.8-magnitude quake devastated a vast area of south-central Chile, causing nearly $30 billion in damage, according to the government. In the first week after the quake, the estimated death toll rose above 800 due to double-counting among government agencies.