David- are you alright?

[j]

Powerful earthquakes hit Peru

LIMA (Reuters) - Two powerful earthquakes within minutes of each other struck Peru on Wednesday shaking buildings in the capital and cutting power in some areas.

The first quake, with a magnitude of 7.7, hit about 20 miles (33 km) west of Chincha Alta, at a shallow 11.2 miles (18 km) from the earth's surface, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

It said the second had a magnitude of 7.5.

Office buildings in Lima shook in at least two different bouts that lasted around 20 seconds each, and workers ran out into the streets in fear, witnesses said.

The USGS says earthquakes measuring more than 7 magnitude often result in fatalities.

[iwannashagsimon]

TWO!!!  I heard it was only one with a 7.9 magnitude.  Either way I hope all our fellow Cure fans there are ok.

[crowbi_wan]

 

David, wishing you the best in this situation.  You're in my thoughts and prayers.   

[Tof]

David, send us a message !!!

[Bloodflower]

I hope you and yours are safe, David.

[japanesebaby]

we all hope you're safe david, i think about you today
waiting for a word from you.

[j]

Update:

Massive earthquake in Peru kills 330 

CANETE, Peru (Reuters) - A massive earthquake hit Peru on Wednesday evening and officials said more than 330 people were killed in the rubble of collapsed homes and a church as rescuers searched for victims early on Thursday.

Peru's health minister initially said few died in the 7.9-magnitude quake, but the toll later rose to more than 330, the nation's civil defense agency said. Hundreds were injured.

"Unfortunately we have official numbers," Luis Palomino, the head of the agency, told Reuters. On its web site, the agency said 337 people died and 827 were injured.

Emergency workers said the coastal province of Ica south of Lima was the hardest hit region.

One fire department official in the area said at least four people were trapped when the main tower of the Senor de Luren church in the city of Ica was toppled.

Rescuers struggled to move south toward Ica as portions of the Pan-American Highway, an key coastal route, were impassable and thieves assaulted stranded travelers, radio reports said.

"I was with my children when the movement started and then the walls collapsed. My house was destroyed," Milagros Meneses, 35, told Reuters in the city of Canete south of the capital, Lima. "The hospital gave me a tent for my kids to sleep in."

At least two people were killed in Canete.

Office workers ran onto the streets in fear as tall buildings in Lima shook in two waves that lasted around 20 seconds each and cut power lines.

A tsunami warning was issued for Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia and a small tsunami was detected. But it posed no major threat and the warning was later lifted.

CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES

Peruvian President Alan Garcia sent condolences to the families of the quake's victims and said the country, which has suffered devastating quakes in the past, narrowly escaped a major disaster.

"It fortunately did not cause a catastrophe with an immense number of victims," he said.

Ambulance sirens blared in the darkened capital where store windows shattered and cellular telephone services were cut off. The health ministry declared a disaster and traffic snarled at the international airport.

"I was playing soccer when the quake hit and I had to run back to my office because I am the chief of security. Now I am going to check on my family," said Juan Francisco Acevedo, 29, who works for an Internet company in Lima.

"People here hugging and crying in fear on the streets," said Cristyane Marusiak, a 31-year-old resident.

The U.S. Geological Survey at first said there were two earthquakes within minutes of each other but later amended its reports to show that one quake struck about 90 miles southeast of Lima at a depth of around 25 miles.

It was followed by nine aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 6 to the upper 4s, said Dale Grant, a geophysicist at the USGS's National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado.

The USGS says earthquakes measuring more than 7 magnitude often result in fatalities. The Andes has many active fault lines.

In 1970, one of the world's deadliest earthquakes killed an estimated 50,000 Peruvians in catastrophic avalanches of ice and mud that buried the city of Yungay.

Peru is a leading minerals producer. But many of its major mines sit far away from the quake zone. Officials at the nearest big mine -- the Cerro Lindo copper, lead and zinc mine owned by Milpo -- could not be reached for comment.

[Steve]

Was thinking the same thing.
I have a friend over on the HL forum who just moved to Peru to open a restaurant.
Hope all is well with you David.

[mikmcc]

Our prayers are with David and his family and friends, and all Peruvians.

[[labyrinth]]

my gosh...
david, let us know if everything's ok!!

[vincent]

My Best Thoughts, David!  :(

[dsanchez]

Hi folks

Thanks a lot for asking. Since I am writing this message, it means I am OK. Also my family and friends.

Lima is located 200Km north of the earthquake center (which is in the sea), so, despite we felt 2 minutes long earthquake (the longest and strongest in the last 50 years!) Lima, the capital, (where I live) was not really damaged. Unfortunately, the city in front of the earthquake center (Ica) was seriously damaged, also because many people live there in houses made of "earth" (barro/adobe) and so victims there are many :(

In Lima victims are 2 persons so far.

I felt the eartquake on the way back home from work (I left late yesterday, like 18.30), and the earthquake was at 18.40. I use to walk pretty fast, so I didnt feel it like people who was in their houses. People was outside of their houses in groups, the lady who rent me the flat was very nervous and crying. It was a strange day.

Mobiles didn't work for more than 2 hours. I tried to reach my parents without success. The cable was also not working. I saw the CNN news from a local channel here.

Well that's all. Unfortunately victims are more than 300 in the whole country, and lot of injured people. Very bad day for peruvians

[Steve]

Good to know you're fine David.

[Tof]

David !!!

Happy to see you here again !!!

All my condolences with the Peruvians !!!

[Lady]

Unfortunately victims are more than 300 in the whole country, and lot of injured people. Very bad day for peruvians

It's a very sad thing! :(

Happy that you're ok!