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By Michael Lopez

There was nothing entertaining about the Chilean earthquake of 2010. Registering an 8.8 on the Richter Scale, it ravaged the country and wound up killing over 500 citizens. But that hasn't stopped Hollywood from wanting to turn it into a disaster flick, which will appropriately be titled Aftershock.

Written by horror maestro Eli Roth (who created the Hostel series), Aftershock follows a group of Chilean inmates who escape from an asylum after the quake. Mixing elements of horror, comedy, and action, it's already got Nicolas Martinez, Ariel Levy, and Miguel Asensio attached as leads.

Interestingly, Roth will also be acting in the film and, according to Hispanically Speaking, Selena Gomez even filmed a cameo. Up-and-coming Chilean moviemaker Nicolas Lopez will be listed as a co-screenwriter and he told DIY that it’s something he’s very proud of.

"I was a fan of [Eli's work] and I love that we're mixing our sensibility," he said. "People will be shocked when they see this movie. It's nothing that you could expect. I want this to be my Robocop."

You can judge for yourself, when Aftershock hits theaters later this year.

Are you planning on watching Aftershock? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Aftershock, Blogger: Michael Lopez, chile, earthquake, Eli Roth, Hostel, Movies & CineMás, Nicolas Lopez, Selena Gomez

Ricky Martin has a heart of gold.  Whoever said his career is no longer relevant clearly doesn't realize the extent of his reach.  The latest accomplishment under Ricky's belt?

El cantante has recently launched a PSA on his website to promote the Ricky Martin Foundation and their efforts to help victims of el terremoto de Chile y Haiti.  Joining Ricky on this star-studded PSA are fellow artistas Gustavo Cerati (de Soda Stereo), Alejandro Sanz, Paulina Rubio, Gloria Estefan, Ruben Blades, Tego Calderon, Miguel Bose, Cristian de la Fuente, Juanes, Juan Luis Guerra, Calle 13, Enrique Iglesias, Amaury Nolasco, Ednita Nazario, Pitbull, Julieta Venegas y más!

Watch the full PSA below, and make sure to check out Ricky Martin's website for more info and the Ricky Martin Foundation site to make a donation.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Alejandro Sanz, Amaury Nolasco, Calle 13, chile, earthquake, Ednita Nazario, Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Gustavo Cerati, Habitat for Humanity, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Julieta Venegas, Miguel Bose, Paulina Rubio, Pitbull, Ricky Martin, ricky martin foundation, Ruben Blades, Tego Calderon

By Sandra Roldán

Last month's 8.8 earthquake in Chile shook the nation to the core, but no amount of destruction will hold back el orgullo Chileno.  So, what better way to show the world that Chile's still got it?  Nacional Records has lined up a roster of the most rockin' artistas Chilenos to contribute to a new benefit album.

On the record is rapper Anita Tijoux, known for her collaboration with Julieta Venegas on her mega-hit "Eres Para Mi."  Anita will also be repping for Chile at SXSW este año, promoting her upcoming album '1977.'

Also on the roster are Latin indie favorites Latin Bitman (who narrowly escaped being squashed by debris), and RH+, who appeared at last year's LAMC festival in New York City.

According to the guys at Nacional Records, the quake hit pretty close to home for some of them:

Nacional founder Tomas Cookman was in Chile with Los Fabulosos Cadillacs for Viña del Mar when the earthquake occurred. Fortunately no one in the band was injured but Tomas does have a bruised leg. The group ended up taking a van across the Andes back to Argentina so they were able to witness the devastation firsthand. Latin Bitman was DJing a massive party when the earthquake occurred. He escaped but within minutes, he noticed that the ceiling had caved exactly where he had been playing.

Que susto! We're just glad nobody was hurt. And you can bet we'll be picking up the CD when it's released later this week! [LA Weekly]

Watch a clip of Anita Tijoux's latest track below, and check out the full track-list behind the cut.  Cuentanos, will you pick up the CD?

Photo via ChileFunk

Read more...

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Anita Tijoux, benefit, chile, earthquake, Julieta Venegas, Latin Bitman, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Musica Latina, nacional records, RH+, SXSW, temblor, terremoto

Rescuers searched for survivors Monday as crews sought to deliver food and water and prevent looting after the fifth strongest earthquake in 100 years ravaged central and southern Chile. The massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the South American country on Saturday just after 3 a.m. local time.

More than 1.5 million people were without power in and around the capital of Santiago, according to Chile's National Emergency Office, but the hardest-hit areas were farther south, in the Maule and Bio Bio regions along the coast.

Authorities said 541 of the 708 reported deaths happened in Maule, where a sewer system collapsed, water towers were close to toppling and communities lacked basic services, the emergency office said. Many people were without safe drinking water and electricity or gas service in Bio Bio, where 64 deaths occurred, according to the Chilean government's latest figures.

Unlike the massive quake that leveled much of the capital of Haiti six weeks ago and killed more than 200,000, the death toll from Saturday's quake — with 500 times the power of the Haitian one — in Chile is much lower, according to reports, because of the country's higher building standards and emergency preparedness due to the frequency of strong earthquakes in the region.

Rescuers from Santiago, fresh from a stint in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, worked through the night to free people who could be trapped in a 15-story building in the hard-hit city of Concepcion in central coastal Chile, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) from the earthquake's epicenter.

Calling the quake an "unthinkable disaster," President Bachelet said a "state of catastrophe" in the worst-hit regions would continue, allowing for the restoration of order and speedy distribution of aid.

Bachelet continued:

"We're facing an emergency without parallel in the history of Chile. The passage of time has demonstrated that we're facing a catastrophe of unforeseen intensity, one that caused damages that are going to require immense, united efforts from all sectors of the country -- private and public."

More than 90 aftershocks have been recorded, ranging from 4.9 to 6.9 in magnitude. The Chilean Red Cross reported that some 500,000 homes sustained considerable damage.

Bachelet has said some 2 million people had been affected in one way or another. (CNN)

Tags chile, earthquake, Haiti, President Bachelet

Yesterday's devastating 7.0 terremoto en Haiti left the city of Port-Au-Prince in a horrifying state of destruction.  El país, which shares la isla con la República Dominicana, hasn't experienced an earthquake of this magnitude in 200 years.  Millones de personas have been left without homes or food, and thousands more have lost loved ones in the destruction.

Wyclef Jean, one of Haiti's most famous exports, has asked todo el mundo to help his Haitian brothers and sisters in any way possible.  El artista stated the following on his website:

"I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now. President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands 'ready to assist' the Haitian people. The U.S. military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible."

For an already impoverished nation like Haiti to be hit this hard, we can only imagine the amount of time and money it will take to recover.  Quieres ayudar?

The American Red Cross has a full-time staff on the ground in Haiti, providing ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention and disaster preparedness programs, and has already pledged an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by the earthquake. They seek additional donations to continue providing food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support.

Also, Wyclef's own organization, Yele Haiti will also be accepting donations to help people affected by the disaster.  Visit the website or text YELE to 501 501 to donate $5 to the relief fund.

For more ways in which you can help out nuestros hermanos Haitianos, visit MTV News.  Our prayers are with everyone affected by esta tragedia!  [MTV News]

Photo via Getty Images

Tags Agentes De Cambio, American Red Cross, donate, earthquake, Haiti, MTV NEws, pro-social, relief, support, wyclef jean, Yele Haiti