EVA VERGARIA
MICHAEL WARREN
Associated Press Writer
DICHATO, Chile – Chile’s president says it will take three years to rebuild the region wracked by an earthquake and tsunami, something all too clear to the people cleaning up this splintered tourist town.
Dichato is nestled between pine-forested hills and a lovely sheltered bay where colorful fishing boats served coastal communities and export companies. Its population of 4,000 triples each January and February with tourists – many were in town when disaster struck – and residents count on that brief summer vacation for much of their income.