( CNN ) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi 's energetic response to Monday 's earthquake has been generally praised despite his comparison of the ordeal of survivors staying in emergency tents to a camping weekend . An elderly local resident bursts into tears during a visit by Silvio Berlusconi , wearing a fireman 's helmet . Berlusconi has visited the town of L'Aquila , the epicenter of the 6.3-magnitude quake , every day this week , talking to survivors and pledging government help to rebuild houses . He scrapped a visit to Russia that was planned for this week . The PM has even been greeted with applause on occasions , according to CNN correspondent Paula Newton , who interviewed him on Wednesday . `` He was very tired when I saw him , you could tell he had n't had much sleep , '' Newton said . `` In general he thrives on these events and politically it will probably give him a boost , if only temporarily . '' However , she added that his visit to a dormitory where students were buried under rubble had upset some of the parents and relatives . `` They were kept well back and he did not meet with them , '' she said . Watch Berlusconi talk about the disaster » ( Italian version ) » . `` One relative , in obvious anger , asked another 'why is he here ? ' and another replied `` he 's taking care of elections , of course . '' And true to form Berlusconi has been unable to avoid putting his foot in it . During a visit to one tent village where thousands who had lost their houses were staying , Berlusconi told German television `` they should see it like a weekend of camping . '' The trademark gaffe sparked predictable outrage . `` He is a completely insensitive man who thinks wisecracks can solve every problem , '' Rina Gagliardi , a former senator of the Refoundation Communist Party , told Agence France-Presse . `` He can never be negative , but an earthquake disorients him because he ca n't blame the left for causing it , so his response is extreme optimism , '' she said . Berlusconi is of course renowned for such off-the-cuff remarks . In November he described Obama as `` handsome and suntanned . '' He was also forced to issue an apology to his wife , Veronica Lario , in 2007 after she read reports of him approaching several women at an awards dinner and declaring : `` If I was n't married , I would marry you straight away . '' Lario received the apology after sending a letter criticizing her husband to a newspaper in which she said his behavior was `` unacceptable '' and `` damaging to my dignity . '' Despite the most recent criticism , Berlusconi has won praise from the media for his limelight-hogging visits to the region . People in the temporary camps also say they are being well looked after by the authorities although they are desperate to collect their own things from their homes . In his interview with CNN on Wednesday Berlusconi said every effort was being made to assess which houses were safe to enter . `` This is an aerial view of Onno , and you can see , unfortunately , how the town has been totally destroyed , '' the prime minister told CNN . `` Here , we can go into greater detail and concentrate on individual houses . This helps us to assess the damage right away and tells us how much it will cost to rebuild . '' The Italian government has said it will cost 1.3 billion euros ( 1.7 billion dollars ) to repair or rebuild about 10,000 buildings damaged in the quake . `` We have the plans for reconstruction and intend to start immediately with the building projects , '' Berlusconi told CNN . `` We will build a new town near the capital , L'Aquila , and keep the possibility open for many families to stay , for the time being , in hotels along the coast , less than a hour away , in pleasant and comfortable circumstances . '' Berlusconi said the plan for the new town would involve low-rate mortgages . `` This is not an alternative to the reconstruction , '' he said Wednesday . `` These are additional houses . ''
Italy PM 's response to Monday 's earthquake has been generally praised . Comment: PM has visited town of L'Aquila every day this week , assessing damage .