Click here to read about the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile early Saturday

Update: 4:51 p.m. - The OU student currenty studying abroad in Viña del Mar, Chile, is safe after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the South American country, Education Abroad assistant director Alice Kloker stated in an e-mail.

The OU Education Abroad office contacted the student earlier this afternoon. She is safe with her host family, Kloker stated.

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Two OU students’ plans to study abroad in Chile this spring have been postponed, according to the assistant director of the OU Education Abroad office.

Alice Kloker stated in an e-mail that OU students’ trips to Chile are postponed until more information about the earthquake damage is available.

Kloker said she and Education Abroad director, Jack Hobson, have been trying to contact the one student currently studying abroad in Chile since early Saturday morning.

“Communication infrastructure in Chile has been overwhelmed with people checking in on loved ones,” Kloker stated. “But we have contacted this individual’s parent and our international student coordinator and are making every possible effort to ensure that this student is safe and being taken care of by our partner university in Viña del Mar, Chile.”