Two Kimberley families are relieved to report that their daughters are safe and sound and on their way to Peru after being in Chile during last weekend’s earthquake.

Brianna Rota and Sarah O’Hearn, both of Kimberley, have been travelling in South America for the past month.

Having already just got out of Machu Picchu as the mudslides occurred in January, the girls had made their way to Chile and were staying in a youth hostel when the earthquake hit early Saturday morning.

Brianna’s Mom, Monica Rota, said that she got a text message on Saturday morning saying only “We’re alive.”

“I thought ‘we’re alive’ was a weird message,” she said. “Then I turned on the news and saw the big earthquake.

“Brianna said it happened at 3:30 in the morning. She jumped out of bed in the hostel and didn’t know what was going on at first. She didn’t know whether to go outside or inside.”

The girls were not near the epicentre of the 8.8 quake, but the area where they were registered a 6.5.

“There was still tons of devastation,” Monica said. “They went to the bus station right away. They already had tickets on a bus to Peru but were told it was quite possible that all buses were cancelled.. But they got out.”

Monica says she has only received sporadic contact as internet service is spotty.

“I just know she’s safe and that’s such a relief. Although all day Sunday I didn’t hear from her. She said she’d contact me but I didn’t hear from her until Monday morning. I was worried maybe they been caught in one of the aftershocks, but she finally made contact. It was scary for us, for sure.”

Right now, there is nothing Monica wants more than for the girls to just fly home.

“They are due to fly into Calgary from Peru on March 11. I talked to the Canadian embassy and they said there is no chance of them getting out early. It’s just too confused there right now. We just want them home, but knowing Brianna she’ll just want to keep travelling.”