Months after Peruvian quake, cities see little progress in rebuilding

Published: 2007-11-02

PISCO, Peru (CNS) -- At first glance, Freddy Sanchez appears to be one of the lucky ones. When a magnitude 8 earthquake struck this fishing port, his house remained standing while many of his neighbors' homes and the church across the street collapsed. But his luck may be running out. Government officials have said that the soil in the beachfront neighborhood where he lives is unstable, and they might prohibit rebuilding there. Officials have not talked with residents, however, and rumors are rampant. "This is where my great-grandparents, my grandparents and my parents lived," he said of the Pisco Playa neighborhood. "I have title to this land, and they can't force me to move." Sanchez's neighborhood has no running water, and the sewers have backed up, creating a foul-smelling puddle at the end of the street that draws flies and mosquitoes.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .