The Chilean government announced on Thursday that a three-day national mourning period will start Sunday for victims killed in last week's massive quake.

According to a law signed by President Michelle Bachelet, Chileans are asked to demonstrate national flags in front of their homes during the period, so as to pay tribute to the victims and offer condolence to their families.

The Interior Department said among 802 bodies that have been recovered, 279 have been identified so far.

A magnitude-8.8 massive quake struck off Chile's central-south coast on Feb. 22, one of the strongest on record.

Over 2 million of the 16 million Chilean were affected and the cost of the damage is estimated between 15 billion and 30 billion U.S. dollars.