President Mr Alejandro Toledo promised today to rebuild a Peru shantytown destroyed by fire, pledging land titles and houses to the 2,400 people left homeless by the blaze.
The blaze ripped through Villa El Salvador on the desert outskirts of Lima, about 12 miles (20 km) south of the Peruvian capital, after a paraffin stove exploded on Thursday night and destroyed hundreds of precarious houses made of wood and straw, authorities said.
No deaths or injuries were reported, while those initially missing were found, residents and doctors said.
"You will have land titles and on this land we will build housing. We are making arrangements to bring you water, sewerage and electricity. ... They will be given at no cost," Toledo said at the site of the fire, adding that tents, water, food and clothing would be distributed to residents.
The fire, which began in the early evening, leveled about 400 houses over an area of a square mile (2.6 square km), Housing Minister Carlos Bruce said.
Residents struggled against the flames by throwing sand from the surrounding dunes at the fire, which burned for about three or four hours. It had nearly burned itself out by the time the firefighters arrived.
But South Lima Fire Chief Duilio Nicolini warned against rebuilding the shantytown, which is not accessible by road, saying its location high up on sand dunes made it very difficult to provide safe housing with water and electricity.