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US Embassy checking on Americans in Chile

Story Created: Feb 27, 2010 at 8:22 PM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 27, 2010 at 8:22 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department says the U.S. Embassy in Chile is working to learn the whereabouts of U.S. citizens, both diplomatic employees and others, who were living in or visiting
Chile when the magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck early Saturday.

There are no reports of U.S. casualties, and the U.S. military says it has no reports that any of its forces have been affected either on land or at sea.

The State Department advises Americans seeking information on family and friends in Chile to contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 1-888-407-4747.

There are 118 embassy employees in Chile. It's unclear how many Americans there are throughout Chile, but an estimated 1,000 live in and near Concepcion, which is only 70 miles from the quake's epicenter.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama says the U.S. "will be there" if Chile asks for rescue and recovery help.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to leave Sunday for a previously scheduled trip to the region.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)