Chile quake reconstruction to take three years
By IANSThursday, March 4, 2010
SANTIAGO - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has said the reconstruction of the country’s quake-hit areas would take at least three years.
More than 800 people were killed after a magnitude-8.8 quake rocked the country Feb 27. About 500 houses were destroyed and two million people were affected, Prensa Latina reported Friday. Many people are still missing.
Bachelet toured the cities of Talca and Concepcion Thursday to review the distribution of aid to the affected people.
We will be at the stockpiling centres, because we want to make sure the aid is reaching south (of the country),” she said.
The president said field hospitals are being set up with help from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and Peru to help the affected people.
Cuba will set up its field hospital in Rancagua, some 90 km south of Santiago.
The quake has damaged dozens of hospitals in the country.
