Chile President Tours Hard-Hit Quake Zones

Chile’s president is touring areas badly damaged by a massive 2010 earthquake.

The 8.8 magnitude quake and the tsunami it unleashed killed 551 people and destroyed 220,000 homes.

Many of the victims came from Constitucion. The tsunami destroyed 80 percent of the heart of the coastal city.

Sebastian Pinera began his presidential term a few days after the quake and is visiting Constitucion on Wednesday to showcase the reconstruction efforts under his leadership.

Damage from the disaster cost Chile $30 billion.

The government says about 90 percent of the reconstruction is complete. Critics say the number is closer to 60 percent and many victims remain homeless.