2010 in Chile

← 2009 2008 2007 2010 in Chile → 2011 2012 2013
Decades:	1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	Other events of 2010 Timeline of Chilean history

Events in the year 2010 in Chile.

Incumbents

• President: Michelle Bachelet (Socialist) (left office on March 11), Sebastián Piñera (RN) (took office on March 11)

Events

February

A building in Concepción collapses after the earthquake.

• February 27 – An 8.8 magnitude earthquake (the fifth largest on record at the time) and tsunami strikes central Chile, affecting 80% of the population and leaving 525 people dead.^[1]

March

• March 11 – Center-right businessman Sebastián Piñera is sworn in as President of Chile, after 20 years of center-left rule.^[2]

May

• May 7 – Chile becomes the first country in South America to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).^[3]

June

• June 28 – Chile's national football team advances to the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 12 years.

August

• August 5 – 33 miners are trapped in a mine in northern Chile for 69 days.

September

• September 18 – Chile celebrates 200 years of independence.^[4]

October

Rescued miner Luis Urzúa and President Sebastián Piñera.

• October 13 – All 33 miners trapped in a mine in northern Chile 700 meters underground are rescued alive after 69 days in captivity. The day-long event was broadcast live to millions around the world.^[5]

December

• December 8 – A fire breaks out at the San Miguel prison in Santiago, killing 81 inmates, the country's deadliest prison incident.^[6]

Deaths

April

• April 24 - Paul Schäfer, founder of Colonia Dignidad (b. 1921)

May

• May 17 - Arturo Fontaine, former director of El Mercurio and former ambassador to Argentina (b. 1921)

July

• July 21 - Luis Corvalán, former senator and secretary general of the Chilean Communist Party (b. 1916)

August

• August 25 - Guillermo Blanco, writer (b. 1926)

September

• September 28 - Héctor Croxatto, scientist, National Prize in Sciences laureate (b. 1908)

November

• November 24 - Sergio Valech, bishop (b. 1927)

References

1. Fick, Jeff (2010-02-28). "8.8-Magnitude Quake Hits Chile - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
2. James Sturcke (March 11, 2010). "Aftershock hits Chile as Sebastián Piñera sworn in | World news". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
3. "Chile's accession to the OECD". Oecd.org. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
4. Sarah Gordon (2010-09-17). "Mexico independence day celebrations: The bicentenary in pictures | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
5. Vanessa Buschschluter (2010-10-14). "BBC News - Celebrations as last trapped Chile miner is rescued". Bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
6. Gideon Long (2010-12-08). "BBC News - Chile prison fire kills scores of inmates". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-09-02.

External links

Media related to 2010 in Chile at Wikimedia Commons