Chile: Gov’t admits to mistakes in quake death toll

Chile’s federal government under former President Michelle Bachelet was criticized for its seemingly slow response to a massive earthquake on February 27. Though the AP claimed that the governments’ response served as “a model for disaster recovery”, some Chileans including newly inaugurated president Sebastian Pinera were none too pleased.

The Piñera administration’s critique of his predecessor includes correcting the death toll that at one point topped the 800 dead mark. The death toll as of Friday according to Ministry of the Interior is 452 along with 97 people still missing. Officials at the agency also warned that the count could rise since those “disappeared” may be found dead in the upcoming weeks.

Despite claiming to have a more accurate death tally the government was forced to later admit that the count was wrong and reduced it even further:

On the list of the 359 people available on the interior ministry's website, however, in more than 50 cases names had appeared twice in different spots on the list, or people with different names but with the same identity card number had appeared.

The government corrected the number of dead identified by identity card and death certificate and reduced to 342 the official death tally, 17 fewer than before.

The government estimated that the tremor cost around $30 billion in losses and officials may raise mining royalties in order to pay for reconstruction.

Image- CBC
Online Sources- Times Online, AP, Cronica de Mexico, Washington Post, Reuters, Sify