On 27 February 2010 , in the last week of summer vacations and less than two weeks before Bachelet 's term expired , Chile was ravaged by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 500 people , toppled apartment buildings and bridges and triggered tsunamis that wiped away entire fishing villages . Bachelet and the government were criticized for a slow response to the disaster , which hit on a Saturday at 3:34 am . and left most of the country without electricity , phone or Internet access . Bachelet declared a " state of catastrophe " and on Sunday afternoon sent military troops to the most affected areas in an effort to quell scenes of looting and arson . She imposed night curfews in the most affected cities . She was criticized for not deploying the troops fast enough
8.8-magnitude earthquake
2010 Chile earthquake
Michelle Bachelet