By Anastacia Mott Austin
A devastating magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Peru Wednesday evening, killing at least 450 people and injuring more than 1500.
The epicenter of the quake was centered near the southeastern cities of Ica, Chincha, and Pisco, which all sustained major damage.
The quake struck at 6:40 in the evening, and lasted for almost two minutes, sending many of the area’s signature adobe brick buildings crumbling to the ground.
"When the quake struck, I thought it would never end," said Maria Mena, a resident of Lima, to reporters. "This is the strongest earthquake I’ve ever felt."
Multiple high-magnitude aftershocks shook the area afterward, some measuring as high as 6.3.
Rescue efforts were hampered by damage to the country’s two main highways leading to the small cities, and area hospitals were overcrowded and affected by power outages.
"Our services are saturated and half of the hospital has collapsed," said Dr. Huber Malma to news reporters, in the small city of Chincha. More than 200 people lined up outside the hospital, waiting for treatment.
Chincha resident Maria Cortez told reporters, "We’re all frightened to return to our houses," although she had no home to return to.
A 12-year-old boy stood near the body of his mother. "We don’t know what to do," said Jose Flores. "I don’t know where to hold a wake for her. The wall just came down and crushed her when I was outside."
Chincha’s prison, Tambo de Mora, had walls collapse and hundreds of prisoners escaped. "The authorities couldn’t do anything," said Manuel Aguilar, the Peruvian prison authority’s vice president, to the Associated Press. "
In the small port city of Pisco, the damages were significant. The tearful mayor of Pisco, Juan Mendoza, told radio station CPN, "The dead are scattered by the dozens on the streets. We don’t have lights, water, communications. Most houses have fallen. Churches, stores, hotels, everything is destroyed."
Wednesday’s earthquake was caused by the type of tectonic plate interaction called "thrust-faulting," which is when two plates collide and one plate slides beneath the other. The quake happened when the Nazca and South America plates collided.
According to experts, a quake of this type and magnitude is typical for the area. "This earthquake really wasn’t that unusual for this part of South America, particularly the coast of Peru," said Harley Benz of the United States Geological Survey, to LiveScience. Benz added that significant aftershocks can be expected to hit for weeks.
Peru’s president Alan Garcia sent messages of condolence and urged residents to stay calm while waiting for help, adding that the casualties could have been much worse.
In May of 1970, Peru experienced a 7.9 magnitude quake that killed 66,000 people.
Residents are finding it hard to heed the advice to remain calm, and are understandably rattled. "Who isn’t going to be frightened?" asked Antony Falconi, a Lima resident. "The earth moved differently this time. It made waves and the earth was like jelly."
Philippines lifts tsunami warning
A devastating magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Peru Wednesday evening, killing at least 450 people and injuring more than 1500.
The epicenter of the quake was centered near the southeastern cities of Ica, Chincha, and Pisco, which all sustained major damage.
The quake struck at 6:40 in the evening, and lasted for almost two minutes, sending many of the area’s signature adobe brick buildings crumbling to the ground.
"When the quake struck, I thought it would never end," said Maria Mena, a resident of Lima, to reporters. "This is the strongest earthquake I’ve ever felt."
Multiple high-magnitude aftershocks shook the area afterward, some measuring as high as 6.3.
Rescue efforts were hampered by damage to the country’s two main highways leading to the small cities, and area hospitals were overcrowded and affected by power outages.
"Our services are saturated and half of the hospital has collapsed," said Dr. Huber Malma to news reporters, in the small city of Chincha. More than 200 people lined up outside the hospital, waiting for treatment.
Chincha resident Maria Cortez told reporters, "We’re all frightened to return to our houses," although she had no home to return to.
A 12-year-old boy stood near the body of his mother. "We don’t know what to do," said Jose Flores. "I don’t know where to hold a wake for her. The wall just came down and crushed her when I was outside."
Chincha’s prison, Tambo de Mora, had walls collapse and hundreds of prisoners escaped. "The authorities couldn’t do anything," said Manuel Aguilar, the Peruvian prison authority’s vice president, to the Associated Press. "
In the small port city of Pisco, the damages were significant. The tearful mayor of Pisco, Juan Mendoza, told radio station CPN, "The dead are scattered by the dozens on the streets. We don’t have lights, water, communications. Most houses have fallen. Churches, stores, hotels, everything is destroyed."
Wednesday’s earthquake was caused by the type of tectonic plate interaction called "thrust-faulting," which is when two plates collide and one plate slides beneath the other. The quake happened when the Nazca and South America plates collided.
According to experts, a quake of this type and magnitude is typical for the area. "This earthquake really wasn’t that unusual for this part of South America, particularly the coast of Peru," said Harley Benz of the United States Geological Survey, to LiveScience. Benz added that significant aftershocks can be expected to hit for weeks.
Peru’s president Alan Garcia sent messages of condolence and urged residents to stay calm while waiting for help, adding that the casualties could have been much worse.
In May of 1970, Peru experienced a 7.9 magnitude quake that killed 66,000 people.
Residents are finding it hard to heed the advice to remain calm, and are understandably rattled. "Who isn’t going to be frightened?" asked Antony Falconi, a Lima resident. "The earth moved differently this time. It made waves and the earth was like jelly."
Philippines lifts tsunami warning
