MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Chilean plan to rebuild Valparaíso but people already returning to their rubble plots
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet vowed to reconstruct Valparaíso, utilizing a new plan that would prevent many of the 11,000 victims of devastating wildfires from rebuilding on hills that cannot be protected from disasters. But she faces a battle to convince evacuees to relocate, with many wishing to return to what remains of their previous homes. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules“The disaster has set a light on the poverty in the city.”
Apr 17th, 2014 - 11:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0agree
agree, poor areas are always the most affected, now it seems the chilean government should do something about having emergency lanes in their highways, or better have proper firehouses near the risk areas.
never seen a fire truck paying the toll in the middle of an emergency.
luckily they didnt have to queue this time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5bjCbaiCqM
@paul
Apr 17th, 2014 - 11:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0The oldest fire station in Chile, The John Jackson Brigade, is in Valpo. The distance is not the problem. The problem is that fire trucks can't get up the steep narrow streets to the areas where the fires started.
2 condorito
Apr 17th, 2014 - 01:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0yes, agree.
i´ve been there 2 years ago at the gervasoni hotel.
loved the city and those narrow steep streets, but did not visit the areas now affected by the fire.
anyway, is it legal in chile collecting tolls to emergency vehicles?
sounds weird
@3 Lovely comment. I assume you're with “Cultural representatives however expressed concerns that new construction could endanger the city’s rich character.” And let's not miss that “thousands of fire victims returned to their home sites on the hills, squatting amid charred rubble on denuded slopes that could turn to landslides in the next rain.”
Apr 17th, 2014 - 01:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Like the “cultural representatives” you'd rather see people die than lose the “quaintness” of the area.
I'd rather see an announcement that this area will never be built on again!
Dream on... It is the nature for the residents to rebuild their homes and it is the nature of politicians to propose plans and then ignore them. One of the reasons our national congress was relocated to Valpo during Pinochet in order to revitalize the city... Since then there has been significant improvement, but nothing close to what could have been done...
Apr 17th, 2014 - 01:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Like the “cultural representatives” you'd rather see people die than lose the “quaintness” of the area. ”
Apr 17th, 2014 - 02:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0eh?
stop smoking that shite you imbecile.
#6 Señor Shite,
Apr 17th, 2014 - 02:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“i´ve been there 2 years ago at the gervasoni hotel.”
You have been to Valpo only in your imaginary delusions. Your all knowing information base seems to be from your mother's computer in her sewing room. Your ignorance of wine as well as your very stupid comments about social issues in a Chile reveals just how pathetic your character is.
7 imbecile 7
Apr 17th, 2014 - 02:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0yes, right, you halfwit
the fact that you have never left chile, the islets or wherever the f*ck you are from, does not mean that the rest are losers like you.
@3
Apr 17th, 2014 - 03:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Gervasoni and surrounding streets are very charming. I always think it is quite risky for tourists as you can easily take the wrong street and end up in a not so charming part of town.
At highway tolls there is a bypass lane that I have seen the police and ambulance use. The fire truck paying at the toll was a surprise to me. I don't know if it is normal or not. The circumstances under which a fire truck has to use the highway are very unusual as every town has their fire station.
@4 Conq
“I'd rather see an announcement that this area will never be built on again!”
I would too, but as Chicureo points out, it will be very hard to convince the people who own the land where their homes used to be, not to return.
@8 paul
Why, when you disagree with someone, do you always insist they come from the “islets”?
Also, seeing as Chicureo was in the navy for years, I think it is exceedingly unlikely that he has never left Chile. Not least because he will have sail the world on the Esmeralda:
http://www.esmeralda.cl/prontus_armada/site/edic/base/port/esmeralda.html
I thought I was doing a rather nice Conqueror imitation...
Apr 17th, 2014 - 04:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry for being so harsh, but I truly get tired of little boys being instant know it all experts about international politics, urban planning and wine. ...I truly wish I was from the islets...
Nice link to my favorite tall vessel.
10
Apr 17th, 2014 - 04:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0sorry for being so harsh? lol
you mean sorry for being so imbecile, don't you?
@ Chicureo
Apr 17th, 2014 - 05:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Nice link to my favorite tall vessel.” - It must be an amazing experience to sail on such a ship.
There are few things in life in life sadder than the aftermath of wildfire on human habitation and few things more certain in life than that the habitants will want to return home.
Apr 17th, 2014 - 05:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@11 paul
That chip on your shoulder seems to be growing by the day.
Condorito
Apr 17th, 2014 - 07:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It was, despite the occasional port call harassment. In the early 80s we still had to keep our tempers in check. Lots of very fond memories.
@9 I think a lot of fire crews from Santiago were sent to help.
Apr 17th, 2014 - 07:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@Elaine
Apr 17th, 2014 - 08:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes, you are right and from other locations too.
Pity about the people killed, but having said that it was a pretty disgusting area. I hope that the authorities improve it when they rebuild.
Apr 18th, 2014 - 12:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0@10 Sorry. You have no chance. I have several advantages over you. I'm educated, intelligent and British. But you did get its name right. Señor Shite is pretty good. Although Señor Simultaneous Diarrohea and Vomit might be better. Just the sort of thing that little “drons” like to lick up and munch.
Apr 19th, 2014 - 01:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Conqueror
Apr 19th, 2014 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Imitation is the highest form of flattery, but I surrender to your judgement.
I studied at an inferior imitation of a British school called the Grange and completed my higher education at a naval school modeled after the British Navy. (We tend to have an annoying habit to purchase your second hand vessels at an advantageous discount) My true disadvantage is being of Scottish heritage mixed with mongrel Iberian misfits, which makes me obviously an inferior candidate to imitate your noble wit.
Forgive me of great Conqueror for lashing upon the ignorant inferiors of the Anglo race and my sincere best wishes for the Easter holiday. May the great and mighty bunny deliver chocolate eggs, filled with good single malt whisky on Sunday morn....
19
Apr 20th, 2014 - 04:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0“May the great and mighty bunny deliver chocolate eggs, filled with good single malt whisky on Sunday morn.... ”
:-)
Happy Easter to all,
Conq.
Chicureo
Chilean P.
Condorito
Elaine B.
Heisenbergcontext.
Did I forget anyone... ?
@18
Apr 20th, 2014 - 05:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0“I have several advantages over you. I'm educated, intelligent and British?”...ah ah..ha ha ha ha ha !!!!...yes, yes, yes,...mainly “intelligent”...it's quite clear, you are really a “brilliant” mind....
Conqui......finally...did you sent the promissed letter to the British PM (suggesting more money to be invested in the protection of the FI)?...please, send a letter asking him to stop the flights between the FI and Chile using Argentine territory.
Have you donate any GBP of your saving to protect the Islands?...remember...taxes are mandatory but donations are voluntary.
Don't be stingy, it's to protect Islanders freedom.
By the way, have the Argentine firefighters started the, several times mentioned, invasion to Chile? What about the Argentine tankers sent to assist our chilean neighbors? Have they started attacking any base or garrison?....
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