A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude locally and 7.5 by
the US Geological Survey hit Peru's southern coast Wednesday
evening, killing?hundreds of ?people.
Speaking on radio stations Radioprogramas and CPN, Peru vian
Health Minister Carlos Vallejos said Thursday that the death toll
had reached at least 337 and the injured more than 1,000.
In a nationally televised address, President Alan Garcia declared
the province of Ica in a state of emergency. Minister Vallejos has
been sent to the city of Ica which is 265 km southeast of the
capital Lima and was hardest hit by the quake.
In his TV address, Garcia sent condolences to the families of the
quake's victims and asked citizens to stay calm and remain vigilant
to aftershocks.
Garcia ordered all Peru vian hospitals to be on red alert, so as to
receive the injured at all times. Schools across the country will
suspend classes from Thursday to ensure safety in schoolhouses.
He also asked telecommunication companies to do rush repairs to
make services return to normal as soon as possible.
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at 6:41?PM
(2341 GMT) about 150 km southeast of the capital Lima, and was
followed by two strong aftershocks measuring 5.8 and 5.9 magnitudes
respectively.
Local TV, however, cited Peru’s geophysical institute as saying
that the epicenter was 120 km southwest of Lima.
Local TV also reported the quake knocked out telephone services and
mobile phone services in Lima. Parts of several cities in southern
Peru had been hit with blackouts.
Radio stations said there was a fire in a shopping center in the
capital.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii issued a tsunami
warning for South America's Pacific coasts based on the strength of
the earthquake in Peru, but cancelled the alerts after about two
hours.
It said the tremor had caused an estimated 25-centimeter tsunami
near the epicenter.
(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2007)
