Dozens of people went back to the streets at dusk to attack local food, clothes, gas stations and pharmacies despite police attempts to contain looting after Saturday's earthquake that has left over 800 dead.
Faced with increased looting, authorities extended a curfew from 20.00 pm to 12.00 in the area of Concepción, reported Deputy Interior Minister Patrick Rosende.
He noted that increasing the military strength and police in the area to 7,000''aims to restore order wherever is altered.''
The curfew imposed on Monday was from 2100 until 0600. It is the first to be implanted in Chile in two decades.
President Michelle Bachelet responded by reinforcing its military presence in the Conception area and announced that 7 thousand troops will be deployed immediately in the affected areas. He also reported on the shipment of 320 tons of aid by an air bridge which will involve 13 aircraft and 24 helicopters.
Bachelet spoke at an airport in the Air Force, where on Monday dismissed the military and shortly thereafter received his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Men and women came to the premises to steal merchandise and fled before police arrived. Bands of scores of men attacked and robbed gas stations also some money to the retailers of gasoline.
The looting took place despite a helicopter overflight of the police, riot police attempted to arrest him and the arrival of hundreds of soldiers who entered the city to the applause of residents who shouted''finally, finally''! as a demonstration of opposition to the looters.
Soon after, for the first time, appeared in the center and other parts of the city a large and clear display of military surveillance.
Additional Resources:
Earthquake in Chile the army goes into the streets
The quake, on Saturday morning, killed at least 300 people
