CHILE: President Sebastian Pinera says reconstruction underway two months after earthquake
Record ID:
1530506
CHILE: President Sebastian Pinera says reconstruction underway two months after earthquake
- Title: CHILE: President Sebastian Pinera says reconstruction underway two months after earthquake
- Date: 28th April 2010
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (APRIL 27, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MONEDA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (3 SHOTS) VARIOUS OF CHILEAN PRESIDENT SEBASTIAN PINERA ENTERING CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE TWO MONTHS SINCE EARTHQUAKE CAMERA OPERATOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN PRESIDENT SEBASTIAN PINERA, SAYING: "Along with the race against time, against the cold, against winter, against the rain, against disease, against children missing school, I want us all to remember why we are in this race: because we have a third task which is to reconstruct our country rock by rock, brick by brick. That is today I want to confirm that the reconstruction plan is already underway. That we are going to hand over 200,000 subsidies for the repair or reconstruction of homes." FIREFIGHTERS IN CEREMONY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN CEREMONY
- Embargoed: 13th May 2010 03:13
- Keywords:
- Location: Chile
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAB9ZF5DX0GTNVW5UJBKX1439PH
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Chile commemorated on Tuesday (April 27) the two-month anniversary of massive February 27 earthquake which killed hundreds and wrecked towns and roads.
President Sebastian Pinera has said his government will raise $8.4 billion to rebuild towns and infrastructure by tapping foreign markets, copper-boom savings and hiking taxes on companies, miners and tobacco.
Reconstruction will test the administration of the conservative billionaire, who took power in March after the disaster.
He said the first two stages of his post-quake plan -- the emergency effort and preparations for the oncoming Southern Hemisphere winter -- had been completed, while the third stage - reconstruction -- is also well underway.
"Along with the race against time, against the cold, against winter, against the rain, against disease, against children missing school, I want us all to remember why we are in this race: because we have a third task which is to reconstruct our country rock by rock, brick by brick. That is today I want to confirm that the reconstruction plan is already underway. That we are going to hand over 200,000 subsidies for the repair or reconstruction of homes," Pinera said.
The government has said it would also make changes to the tax structure governing mining royalties in the world's top copper producer to add to the reconstruction fund.
But the recent announcements have been of little comfort to some residents in quake-battered areas who face the onset of winter in precarious conditions.
Many are still living in tents. These residents in the hard-hit city of Concepcion were given the green light to rescue what they could from their homes before this building will be demolished.
The government estimates total economic damage from the quake at around $30 billion, with the impact on the state and the private sector approaching $10 billion each. The rest is attributed to lost productivity as well as insurance. The figures are deemed reasonable by some, overplayed by others. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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