Eathquakes and aftershocks from the major quake last month continue to hit the battered country.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the strongest aftershock had a magnitude of 6.9 and was centered in Chile's Libertador O'Higgins region, about 145 kilometers southwest of the capital, Santiago.
It was one of the strongest aftershocks to hit the nation since an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in late February killed about 500 people.
Meantime Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as Chile's new president on Thursday.
The aftershocks were felt by dignitaries who gathered for Mr. Pinera's inauguration at the congressional building in the coastal city of Valparaiso, 130 kilometers west of Santiago. Buildings there shook and windows rattled, but the inauguration proceeded without interruption.
President Pinera, later took a helicopter tour of quake-affected areas, including the coastal town of Constitucion, which was ruined in the initial quake.
Mr. Pinera succeeds Chile's first female president, socialist Michelle Bachelet, who is barred from a second consecutive term. A Harvard-educated economist, Mr. Pinera is expected to steer the Chilean economy toward more free market policies.
The U.S. State Department congratulated Mr. Pinera on his inauguration Thursday, saying the United States looks forward to working with him to deepen the partnership with Chile.
Mr. Pinera's inauguration marks the first time a conservative has led the country since democracy was reinstated in 1990.
Ms. Bachelet leaves office with high public approval ratings, despite criticism of the government's initial response to the initial quake February 27.
On Wednesday, the head of Chile's emergency management agency resigned in the fallout over the failure to issue a clear warning about the tsunami that followed the quake.
The Chilean government has said reconstruction will cost about $30 billion and that it will take three or four years to rebuild the country.
| By Anonymous, 03-12-10, 01:54 PM |
Aftershocks unnerve Chile as new president is sworn inChile suckers, watch out for who you voted for.
You vote a billionaire (although it was the tightest election ever) to be your president!
Voting tycoon to run the government is one of the most stupid thing you have ever done as the people for yourself. |
| By waltky, 03-12-10, 10:23 PM |
| Chile still feelin' the aftershocks...
:eek:
Chile puts quake damage at $30bn
Friday, 12 March 2010 - Sebastian Pinera’s own inauguration was rattled by an aftershock
]
Chile’s new President, Sebastian Pinera, has said it will cost at least $30bn (£20bn) to rebuild the country after January’s earthquake. Speaking on his first full day in office, he said loans and budgetary savings would be used to rebuild infrastructure, homes and industry. Other nations would be asked to help, Mr Pinera told reporters in Santiago.
The 8.8 magnitude quake on 27 February killed nearly 500 people, with hundreds others missing and 1.5m homes damaged. A 6.9-magnitude aftershock rattled the country as Mr Pinera’s inauguration was being held. The businessman is the first centre-right politician to come to power in Chile since the end of military rule in 1990.
Copper income
Mr Pinera told Friday’s news conference that a special fund would be set up to rebuild around 300,000 houses plus hospitals, schools and roads. He acknowledged that he would have to re-allocate funds from other projects to pay for the reconstruction, and that the process would take years, not months. Some of the work would be paid for with income from exports of copper, of which Chile is the world’s biggest producer.
More [url:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8565493.stm[/url]
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