Mayor of Chaiten: Amount of money announced is "enough for the first stage"

SANTIAGO.- The mayor of Chaitén, José Miguel Fritis, has deemed the $500 thousand peso economic package offered by the government to Chaitén residents affected by the volcano eruption “an interesting amount”.

While he maintained that “placing a price on misfortune is incredibly absurd”, the mayor stressed that the subsidy is “part of a series of measures” that will be complemented by aid in the areas of health, work and education, among other things.

During an interview with Radio Agricultura, Fristis stated that the announced sum of money “is enough for a first stage”.

When asked when residents of the area would be able to return to their homes, Fritis said that he was not in any condition to offer a date, because the situation is one that must be evaluated on a day to day basis due to its risky nature.

This risk, he said, is what is keeping Chaitén residents from being allowed to return to their homes to salvage their possessions despite the petitions they wish to present before the Court of Appeals.