In 1960 , an earthquake shook Chile , the most powerful one ever recorded . Ariel Dorfman recalls that the quake brought Chile 's people together to rebuild . as if they were contestants in a horror show -- this one cost so many billions , that one cost so many lives -- and yet , to measure what has changed in Chile between these two major disasters in the intervening half century The country was divided into two parts : a wealthy and prosperous northern region called Santiago ( now known as Chile) and a poor southern part of the country called Valparaiso ( today ). Dorfman says nation 's `` deepest wells '' of solidarity , fellowship can help it rebuild again .
In 1960 , an earthquake shook Chile , the most powerful one ever recorded . Ariel Dorfman recalls that the quake brought Chile 's people together to rebuild . The country was divided into two parts : a wealthy and prosperous northern region called Santiago ( now known as Chile) and a poor southern part of the country called Valparaiso ( today ). Dorfman says nation 's `` deepest wells '' of solidarity , fellowship can help it rebuild again .