300 Still in refugee camp 10 weeks after Lorca quake

 

Ten weeks since the earthquakes struck the Murcian town of Lorca, and it seems that the continuing problems that the town is facing in rebuilding itself is barely mentioned in the news.

When the two earthquakes, measuring 4.6 and 5.2 on the richter scale, it left behind a devastation that took 9 lives and left a further 300 injured.

The damage also extended to around 25% of the towns buildings - many of them old and unable to stand up to the ferocity of the quake. A number of buildings were destroyed completely and many more damaged beyond repair and subsequently levelled. 75 buildings of historical interest were damaged.

Many of the Town's 92'000 were left homeless until the damage could be assesses and, if necessary repaired, and were fortunate enough to be accommodated by friends and relatives. However, there is still an estimated 300 homeless who have nobody to turn to for assistance, and no funds to find alternative accommodation.

Tumbit Director Dan Brammall, a regular visitor to friends and family in the Town told us : " It's pretty grim. You can understand the need for an Emergency camp to accommodate those left homeless for a few days - maybe even a week - but for so many people to be forced to live in a refugee camp ten weeks later is a disgrace,"

Dan has visited the Town regularly since the earthquake struck, and has seen the efforts of the community in rebuilding itself, "Estimated costs keep rising, the latest is that the Alcalde is quoting 3 years and 1 billion euros, but in my opinion the priority should be placed on re-homing these guys forced to live in a tent before repairing a few church roofs".