President Piñera highlights the government's deployment in response to rain, fires and earthquake: " We will do all that is necessary to deal with these natural phenomena in an efficient and timely manner"
The President has already allocated 128 billion pesos to deal with emergencies in the north, center and south of the country.
President Sebastián Piñera highlighted on Monday President Sebastián Piñera has highlighted the government’s mobilization and quick response to the three different disasters that have hit the country this summer: the Altiplano winter rains in the far north of the country, the earthquake that struck the Coquimbo Region in northern Chile and the fires that are burning in central and southern Chile.
“This summer everyone in Chile has been able to show their mettle, courage and resilience as we face these disasters,” said the President from La Moneda Palace after presiding over a meeting of the Government’s policy committee. In attendance were the Social Development Minister, Alfredo Moreno, and Acting Interior Minister Rodrigo Ubilla, Acting Treasury Minister Rodrigo Cerda, Acting Minister Secretary General of the Presidency Claudio Alvarado and Acting Minister Secretary General of the Government Emardo Hantelmann.
The President lamented the death of 10 people due to these disasters and reiterated that his first priority is to protect people’s lives, in addition to restoring public utility services such as electricity and water, setting up shelters and installing early warning systems.
Another fundamental effort has been to restore connectivity in the north, as well as to supply food, water and other supplies to isolated communities. Furthermore, special aid will be allocated to the agricultural sector.
"The Government has been able to demonstrate its ability to react effectively," said President Piñera.
The damage caused by heavy rains in the Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions is estimated at 60 billion pesos. This sum has already been allocated and is available to swiftly address problems in the affected areas.
"We will do all that is necessary to deal with these natural phenomena in an efficient and timely manner," said the President.
In the south of the country, 4,126 fires have been registered that have destroyed 41,362 hectares of land. President Piñera stated that the total budget is 112% higher than in normal years, rising from 25 billion to 53 billion pesos, thus doubling the capacity to combat the fires.
In total, 53 planes and 300 fire brigades from the national forestry service (CONAF) and private companies have been working to contain fires in affected areas, focused on the Aysén, La Araucanía, Biobío, Maule and Valparaíso regions.
The President announced that, along with these efforts, a second Ten Tanker plane will be incorporated this week in order to combat the fires.
Finally, the President highlighted the implementation of a 15 billion peso reconstruction plan for the affected areas in the Coquimbo region following a strong earthquake in January.
In total, a budget of 128 billion pesos has already been allocated to deal with the three emergencies.
“We are going to continue with mobilization efforts in order to ensure that the State of Chile meets its obligations and upholds its commitment to protect the lives of our fellow citizens and address these adversities head-on, to minimize damage and
speed up recovery and reconstruction efforts in affected areas in the northern, central and southern parts of our country,” he concluded.