Massive earthquake strikes Peru

August 17, 2007

Overview: 8.0-magnitude leaves thousands of Peruvians homeless

Photo: Jacob Goad, ACT International

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Peru near Pisco on the evening of August 15. Over 16,500 families have been affected with 510 deaths reported so far and close to 1,000 injured. However, due to heavy damage to transportation and communication infrastructure, most rural parts of the affected area have yet to be assessed. The number of destroyed homes could be as high as 70,000.

Families are frantically searching for their loved ones and are in desperate need of food and protection. Safe drinking water, shelter, medicine, clothes and non-perishable food items are urgently needed. As aftershocks continue to roll through the area, the need for support is only increasing.

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 also sent relief items directly to the airport in Pisco.

Background

The affected area covers an estimated 1,000 km2. The region includes a large number of villages, towns and cities of various sizes dispersed among numerous valleys. Adobe houses are common throughout the region and since it is currently the winter season, temperatures can drop at night to 10°C in the lower areas and as low as 0°C in higher regions. The most severely 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).

Hospitals are overwhelmed and the government has declared a state of emergency in the region of Ica and the province of Cañete.

Relief is desperately needed.

PWS&D responds: Shelter, food and therapy

PWS&D is responding to this disaster through Action by Churches Together International (ACT). The ACT response will:

• Provide 100 temporary emergency shelters with a family water deposit and a smaller deposit with drinking water.
  
• Provide 250 families with food kits for two weeks.
  
• Hold recreational therapy sessions for 1,000 children.
  
• Train over 1,000 families in community organization in times of crisis.