Robinson Crusoe Island devastated by post-earthquake tsunami

Robinson Crusoe Island is a small, isolated island four hundred miles off the coast of Chile. The island is rich with history – including pirates, buried treasure and the real-life inspiration for Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe – but unfortunately lacking in resources. In 2006, I was part of a team of Chilean and American journalism students who went to the island and built a documentary website.

Minutes after last week’s earthquake struck Chile’s mainland, Robinson Crusoe Island was pummeled by a tsunami that, according to AP reports, covered nearly two miles of the island. When the wave retreated, it took with it nearly all of the island’s small fishing settlement. Just about everything is wiped out – their school, community center, fishing boats, supply stores, homes.

Some of us who created the site back in 2006 have put together a new video showing photos from before and after, and we have links to where visitors can find out more and donate directly to the island’s people. Check out (and share!) the video below, and go to Chasing Crusoe to learn how you can help the island survive.

(and a special thanks to Andrew Sullivan for posting our message on his blog!)

Tsunami Relief for Robinson Crusoe Island from Más a Tierra on Vimeo.