Twenty-seven students and staff from the University of Notre Dame are safe, after the magnitude 8.8 earthquake that rocked Chile in the early morning hours on Saturday.

According to university spokesman Dennis Brown, there are 19 undergraduate students, five graduate students, and three staff members studying in the capital city of Santiago.

Less than two months after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, this is the second time members of the university community have been in the middle of a natural disaster.

"For the second time this semester, we are immensely grateful that Notre Dame students, faculty and staff are safe in the wake of a devastating natural disaster," said Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C, president of the university.

The university is monitoring the situation to determine whether to continue with the programs in Chile for this semester.

Notre Dame's study abroad program in Chile was founded in 1993.