The number of people killed in a devastating...

A large earthquake rating a magnitude of 8.8 occurred off the coast of Chile on February 27, followed by a series of aftershocks and tsunamis. Some 2 million Chileans were left homeless and 1.5 million houses were damaged by the quake.

"The death toll now nears 800," Michelle Bachelet said.

The U.S., Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, China and the EU pledged aid to the disaster-hit state. Russian emergencies ministry will also send two planes with humanitarian cargo on Wednesday and Thursday.

"The humanitarian cargo includes tents, diesel generators, pumps, blankets and food," a spokeswoman for the Russian emergencies ministry said.

MOSCOW, March 2 (RIA Novosti)