JCB pledge $100,000 worth of support for Chilean quake victims

JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford has pledged assistance worth $100,000 to help in the rebuilding efforts in the wake of the Chilean earthquake disaster. 



He has donated a 3C backhoe loader complete with attachments and spare parts to help with reconstruction efforts in the country’s second city Concepcion, which was hit by a 8.8-magnitude quake that has killed more than 700 people. About 1.5 million homes were also damaged in the earthquake and initial estimates put the cost of rebuilding at between $15bn and $30bn.

JCB have supplied the machine through their Chilean dealer Derco, who are also making available free-of-charge a fleet of used machinery for the authorities to use in rebuilding efforts. Derco’s headquarters in the capital Santiago – 270 miles away from Concepcion – have been badly damaged by the quake, while their premises in Concepcion appear to be largely unaffected. 



Sir Anthony said: ‘This is one of the most powerful earthquakes on record and it has had a catastrophic effect on Concepcion. I hope in some small part our donation will contribute to the rebuilding effort and help some of those people whose lives have been turned upside down by this disaster.’