The decision to relocate families was made after an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale hit the sparsely populated Koryak Autonomous Area on the Kamchatka Peninsula April 21, injuring 40 people and seriously damaging infrastructure, especially in the towns of Tilchiki and Korf.
Koryak Governor Oleg Kozhemyako said the idea of moving people would be considered at a government session on May 11, and added that the construction of a new town would be much cheaper than rebuilding the ruined towns.
"It would take about 1.5-1.7 billion rubles [roughly $59 million], not counting social facilities," Kozhemyako said.
If approved, construction would start immediately, he said and the first stage would be ready in September this year. The first stage will see construction of 54 quake-proof houses, a school, a kindergarten and an electric power plant.
"During the second stage in 2007 we plan to move the remaining citizens of Korf and Tilichka," Kozhemyako said. "By this time we will have constructed about 200 houses and a 60-bed hospital with a TB ward, while a movie theater and administrative buildings will be under construction."
More than 1,500 rescue workers and 260 pieces of equipment have been drafted in to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake. A total of 865 people were evacuated from the quake-hit areas to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional capital in the south of the peninsula, and the Koryak capital, Palana, where temporary accommodation has been set up and medical help is available.
