Ship offers hope to Chilean victims

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - 8.8. The number seems surreal, but for Chile, it's all too real.

"They don't have food, supplies, some places there's no electricity, no water, no gas," said Lt. Claudia Gonzalez Larenas of the Chilean Navy.

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake has displaced more than a million, killed hundreds, and left a country ravaged.

"Our country was devastated by earthquakes and tsunamis," said Larenas. "There are many small and big towns and cities that have been destroyed."

Many on the Gulf Coast stepped up to help. The Almirante Montt, which was built in Mobile and commissioned to the Chilean Navy, will set sail for Chile with more than five tons of earthquake relief supplies.

"We got a lot of goods, and it was impressive. Many people came, families came. It was something very touching because we're very far from our families also," Larenas said.

In just two days, nearly a thousand people filled 3,000 cubic feet of cargo space with relief supplies. For members of the Chilean Navy who have not been in their home country for five months, this mission, the Ship of Hope, is deeply personal.

"It's something that we're very excited and nervous," said Larenas.

The Ship of Hope leaves Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.. The supplies are expected to reach Chile by late March.