Ecuador has begun reconstruction, days after the massive earthquake shook the country on April 16, President Rafael Correa said Saturday.

The number of death has risen to 646, with 12,499 injured and 130 still missing, and 26,091 remained in make-shift shelters, the president said in a televised interview.

Authorities said reconstruction is estimated to cost billions of dollars.

It was the worst earthquake in the country in 70 years. Correa said the pain was immense and called for those affected to stay hopeful through the difficult time.

Correa said he would declare eight days of official mourning in the country.

Pledging that he would stand by the affected families and expressing gratitude for international support, Correa said the reconstruction process has just begun after the devastating earthquake.

"The families of the deceased and injured will count on us for support. We will do all we can to stand by their side," he said.

Correa, who spent this week visiting areas affected by the earthquake and supervising aid efforts, said Ecuador is "in crisis."

"We are facing the toughest and saddest part, which is the rescuing of the victims and the injured. But this is just the beginning. Later, we will begin the stage of reconstruction, during which there will be much suffering for those who lost their belongings," he said.

The president vowed for high-quality shelter and said that families that provide sheltering for others would receive financial support.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Planning said the reconstruction of housing and public infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools, is expected to cost over 1.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Planning Minister Sandra Naranjo said the total costs are expected to be known in six weeks after international organizations complete their technical assessments.

An official evaluation of 10 cities in Manabi, the province that took the brunt of the damage, showed that 1 million people were affected, 42.3 percent of whom live in poverty.

It also found that 70 percent of houses in these cities are vulnerable, with faults and weaknesses.

Ecuador has said that it was mulling borrowing billions of dollars to finance public investment.

China has provided much-needed humanitarian aid and donations to Ecuador's post-earthquake relief efforts.

The Chinese government on Thursday handed over 2 million U.S. dollars and 10 truck loads of aid to help the South American country.

The Chinese community in Ecuador also helped raise funds and collect supplies.

On Thursday, the Chamber of Commerce of Chinese Companies in Ecuador provided 138,000 U.S. dollars in cash, 11 tons of water, as well as lighting and communications gear, sheets, towels, pillows and blankets, and diapers.
Source: XINHUA