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).
