The death toll of the earthquake that shook the center-south region of the country on Saturday rose to 802, Chilean Interior Vice Minister Patricio Rosende said on Wednesday.

Local residents recover their belongings in Talcahuano, near the quake-devastated Concepcion, Chile, March 3, 2010. The number of deaths from the 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile and ensuing Tsunami could exceed 800, President Michelle Bachelet said on Wednesday. [Xinhua]

During a press conference at the building of the National Emergency Office (Onemi), Rosende said that the death toll could rise while the rescue works are ongoing.

Rosende also said that "the next days we are going to continue the public and private operations of the country to solve the problems at the affected areas."

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2010)