Chile Gradually Steps Out Of
Earthquake Shadow
SANTIAGO - A month after the 8.8-magnitude
megaquake rocked Chile, the government and
people have managed to gradually walk out of
the earthquake shadow and are bringing life
back to normal again.
According to latest government figures, the
quake damaged or destroyed 200,000 homes, 79
hospitals and more than 4,000 schools, with
371,000 people having been directly
affected.
In Concepcion, capital of Bio Bio, one of
the hardest-hit areas in the quake,
reconstruction is a way of life: people are
busily repairing or rebuilding their houses;
excavators and trucks are digging into the
mountains of rubble to clear the way;
electricians and plumbers are repairing
electricity and water systems in the city.
The Chilean government is rushing to build
40,000 makeshift houses, 30,000 tents and a
dozen of emergency hospitals at the
quake-torn areas to help the homeless to
live and get medical treatment indoors
before winter comes.
The government also plans to offer subsidies
with a total amount of 2.543 billion U.S.
dollars to 196,000 families for house
reconstruction and repair.
Infrastructure reconstruction is also under
way, including damaged roads, bridges, ports
and airports.
President Sebastian Pinera estimated
reconstruction would take around 30 billion
dollars.
Curfew in some of the affected regions have
been partly lifted. The curfew ended in
parts of the states of Bio Bio, Arauco and
Nuble due to improved security conditions,
military General Guillermo Ramirez said.
The curfew in Concepcion will be reduced
from six to four hours to keep the
infrastructure repairs at night. |
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