It will take at least two months to carry out a detailed assessment of the damage caused by Monday's devasting quake in the central region of Abruzzo, Premier Silvio Berlusconi said on Friday.
''We think it will require at least two months to assess the damage. After that we'll begin tearing down (damaged buildings) and start rebuilding,'' the premier told a television programme in a telephone interview before attending Friday's mass funerals at L'Aquila.
''The area has been divided into six zones and we're already surveying what needs to be done. Superintendents will be tasked with coordinating the reconstruction phase which will begin immediately after,'' said the premier.
The media mogul-turned politician said he had also suggested dividing the quake-stricken area into 100 projects and asking the country's 100 provincial governments to take responsibility for their reconstruction.
''What's certain is that every construction site will have a sign showing when work will begin and when it ends,'' said the premier, who has repeatedly guaranteed that reconstruction will be carried out according to a scheduled timetable.
Speaking on Thursday, Berlusconi said rebuilding the quake-hit areas would likely require ''several billion euros''.
''I guarantee these will be found,'' the premier added.
The cabinet on Thursday approved a package of emergency measures to ease financial pressures on the 29,000 people left homeless by Monday's devastating earthquake.
