Deaths as powerful earthquake strikes southern Peru

A powerful earthquake in southern Peru has killed at least two people and injured dozens, while causing houses and roads to collapse.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake happened at 09:18 GMT on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey. Its epicentre was in the Pacific Ocean 40km from Acari, a town in Peru’s Arequipa region. 

Yamila Osorio, governor of Arequipa, said that one of the dead was a 55-year-old man who was crushed by a rock.

In a post on Twitter, she said at least 20 people were receiving treatment after suffering injuries.

Hasta este momento
1 fallecido, +de 20 heridos.Todos están siendo atendidos. Vías vecinales obstruidas. Viviendas afectadas (estamos validando cifras)
Gore cuenta con maquinaria en la zona q ya está interviniendo en vías. Estaremos trasladando carpas y frazadas en las ss horas

— Yamila Osorio (@yamilaosorio) January 14, 2018

Another death was reported in the town of Bella Union following the collapse of a building.

Several cities were left without electricity, and roads and houses collapsed as a result of the tremor. In response, INDECI started sending humanitarian aid like tents and blankets to the affected areas.

Heavy machinery was also on its way to clear roads and remove rubble.

Sunday’s earthquake was also felt in the northern parts of Chile. ONEMI, Chile’s National Emergency offices, said on its website that no injuries or damage had been reported.

The earthquake struck an area that gets regularly hit by tremors, due to its proximity to the boundary between the South America plate and the Nazca plate.

Large earthquakes shook the region in 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2013.

The 2007 tremor killed more than 500 people, injured over 1,300 and affected thousands.