Alert
Peru (Earthquake) - No 1/2007
Massive earthquake strikes Peru
Geneva, August 17, 2007
Following the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Peru near Pisco on August 15, 2007 at 6:41 pm local time (23:41 GMT), the ACT Peru forum reports the following:
The most affected locations include the regions of Ica (with the cities and provinces of Pisco, Ica and Chincha), Lima (provinces of Cañete and Yauyos) and Huancavelica (provinces of Huaytará and Castrovirreyna) for a total affected area estimated at 1,000 km2. The regions include a large number of villages, towns and cities of various size dispersed among numerous valleys. Adobe houses are common throughout the region as well. As it is currently winter, the temperature can drop at night to 10° C in the lower areas and as low as 0° C above 2,500 m.
The National Institute for Civil Defence (INDECI) reported yesterday that 24 hours after the earthquake struck, they could only evaluate damage in 30% of the affected areas, due to the damaged transportation and communication infrastructures.
National and local authorities indicate that there are 16,669 families affected (mostly by loss of homes), 510 deaths and close to 1000 injured. INDECI also suggests that when including the rural areas that have not yet been evaluated, the total number of destroyed homes could be as high as 70,000.
Hospitals are overwhelmed and the government has declared a state of emergency in the region of Ica and the province of Cañete. INDECI has sent additional technical staff to its local committees in the affected areas and formed an emergency committee in Pisco, the hardest hit city. Additional medical staff were also sent to the region.
The most urgent needs are: drinkable water, shelter, medicines, clothes and non-perishable food. Water is being brought from Lima to Pisco and Chincha by tanker trucks and food distribution is being organized with the support of the government's national food program. The governments of Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Chili and Mexico have already sent in-kind support directly to the airport in Pisco.
The ACT forum in Peru formed an emergency committee yesterday with the three ACT members: Lutheran World Relief (LWR) - Andean Regional Office, Centre for Studies and Disaster Prevention (PREDES) and the Evangelical Lutheran Association for Aid to Community Development (DIACONIA).
PREDES and DIACONIA will send two assessment teams on Friday and Saturday to evaluate the damage and needs in less accessible, vulnerable and poor rural areas. LWR will focus on the Huancavelica region and has also attended a coordination meeting with INDECI. The ACT forum is planning to send an ACT Rapid Response Fund request early next week, possibly followed by an appeal.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org). Thank you for your attention.
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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.
The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
