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On August 15, 2007, an earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale hit Peru, including the cities of Pisco, Chincha, Cañete and Ica south of Lima. The earthquake kills 595 people, 2 291 are wounded and 76 000 homes are destroyed. Twelve years later, reconstruction is well advanced, after a difficult start.
Cristina Fernández was in an internet cafe at 6:40 pm on August 15, 2007. She was able to get out just before the room collapsed. Despite the fear of aftershocks, she chose to stay: " In the beginning, reconstruction was slow. Even today, we can see that some houses have not been rebuilt. For traders, there has been a paradoxically positive earthquake effect in some ways. Few people in Peru knew about the city of Pisco and after a lot of tourists came to see the damage ... It took 5 years for things to start to get better .
New infrastructures
Mayor at the time of the earthquake, Juan Mendoza Uribe has just been re-elected. While the cathedral was rebuilt and the central square is in full swing, he is rather satisfied with the current state of his city: " Pisco has rebuilt its drinking water and sewer system to 90 - 95 %. For the legalization of the lands, we were able to hand over 13,500 titles of property so that the inhabitants could rebuild. Another 15,000 houses were not rebuilt because those who lived there had no title to property and therefore no right to receive state aid. These families are those who still live in prefabricated houses for lack of a legal solution. "
Ricardo lives in a slum of wood, cardboard and plastic in the area known as Pisco Beach. The inhabitants refusing to leave did not receive any help because all this neighborhood at the edge of sea was declared inconstructible, in spite of the doubts of the population. Ricardo for example does not want to leave: " We heard that they wanted to build a seaside resort and yet, to us, it was said that the soil was liquefiable in case of earthquake, the area was unbuildable but it is the case virtually of all Pisco. We were born here, our parents too, and that's where we want to live, not anywhere else . " It is near the beach that the city of Pisco shows its most desolate image. Here, no work or almost except a park that has trouble getting out of the sand.
Lack of doctors and teachers
Elsewhere, the cemetery was redone, two shopping centers built and a pedestrian boulevard, the new town hall and two hospitals, without the Mayor Juan Mendoza is fully satisfied: " The hospitals here are modern but they are only level 2. This means that we do not have permanent specialists in Pisco. We do not have oncologists, cardiologists, we do not have neurologists, endocrinologists ... the specialized doctors are in Lima or in regional hospitals of Ica ". Mototaxi for 13 years, Daniel Bernal is satisfied with the physical reconstruction of Pisco, less of the quality of its services: " It takes more work and a better education. Rebuilding schools is good, but the level of teachers is low .
►To listen also: Reportage International - Peru: reconstruction of Pisco, six years after the earthquake
It may seem paradoxical, but it is the earthquake that has brought Pisco into the modern world since the drinking water and sewer systems are very recent. Gustavo Otoguchi owns a hotel that has survived the earthquake. He recognizes that many homes have been rebuilt by individuals, which is not necessarily good news: " The majority rebuilt in concrete and noble materials. The clayey earth has practically disappeared but not everyone uses experienced architects and engineers. It's a matter of budget, people who do not have access to a bank loan are rebuilding the old way: just with a mason and without the help of skilled technicians. »Columns too thin or the use of sea sand could weaken new construction in the event of an earthquake.
And these strong earthquakes, they are still many to fear as Cristina Fernández: " The fear is not gone, it is not for me. As soon as there is a shock, not even very strong, the first thing I do is to rush out for fear of being buried under the rubble. "