Major earthquake strikes Peru followed by multiple large aftershocks
Thursday, August 16, 2007
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 has struck just off the coast of Peru followed by 16 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from the lowest of 4.5 and the highest of 6.3.
According to Peruvian government officials, 540 deaths and at least 1,600 injured people have been reported throughout the country and some power in Lima has been lost. Reports say some buildings and houses have collapsed including a church and some landslides have also been reported. Hospital workers ended a strike to assist those in need of medical attention.
"There have been losses in the south. But thankfully this has not been a human catastrophe," said the President of Peru, Alan Garcia.
The initial quake with a magnitude of 7.9 was recorded at at 23:40:57 (UTC) at a depth of 30.2 kilometers (18.8 miles) and was located 45 km (25 miles) west-northwest of Chincha Alta, but witnesses report feeling the quake as far away as Lima, where buildings shook. The USGS says that damage could be heavy.
The first aftershock, a magnitude 5.8 struck at 00:02:42 UTC and was located 70 km (45 miles) south-southwest of Huancayo in central Peru. That quake had a depth of 31.2 km (19.4 miles).
The largest aftershock of the 13, had a magnitude of 6.3 and struck at 05:16:58 (UTC) and was located 35 km (22 miles) southwest of Ica off Peru's coast.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Tsunami Warning Center briefly issued a tsunami warning for areas 100 km from the epicenter stating that "it is not known that a tsunami was generated" and that the warnings issued are based on the "evaluation of the earthquake only," but "an earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours." All tsunami warnings were subsequently canceled.
Sources
[edit]
- "Earthquake in Peru" — Apuntes Peruanos, August 16, 2007 09:23:00 UTC
- "Peru quake kills 500, bodies in streets" — ABC Online, August 16, 2007
- "Hundreds reported dead from strong earthquake in Peru" — Radio New Zealand, August 16, 2007
- "Powerful earthquake kills 115 in Peru; more than 1,000 injured" — Brisbane Times, August 16, 2007
- "Death Toll Rising in Deadly Quake" — KCRG, August 16, 2007
- Monte Hayes. "Powerful Earthquake in Peru Kills 71" — Chicago Tribune, August 16, 2007
- "Peru earthquake kills 72 - official" — Forbes, August 16, 2007
- Alex Emery. "Peru Stages Rescue Operation as Quake Kills 60 People (Update2)" — Bloomgberg, August 16, 2007
- Alex Emery. "Peru Stages Rescue Operation as Quake Kills 50 People (Update1)" — Bloomberg, August 16, 2007
- Lucien Chauvin. "Powerful Quake Kills At Least 48 in Peru" — Washington Post, August 16, 2007
- "Magnitude 6.3 - NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL PERU" — USGS, August 16, 2007
- Leslie Josephs. "Powerful Earthquake Kills at Least 17 in Peru" — Washington Post, August 16, 2007
- "Magnitude 5.9 - NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL PERU" — USGS, August 16, 2007
- "Magnitude 5.9 - NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL PERU" — USGS, August 16, 2007
- "Magnitude 5.8 - CENTRAL PERU" — USGS, August 16, 2007
- "Tsunami Message 2" — NOAA, August 16, 2007 220 PM HST
- "Tsunami Warning 001" — NOAA, August 16, 2007 00:19 UTC
- "Powerful earthquakes hit Peru" — Reuters, August 16, 2007
- Associated Press. "Strong earthquake strikes Peru" — Seattle Post Intelligencer, August 15, 2007
- "Powerful earthquake jolts Peru" — MSNBC, August 15, 2007
- "Tsunami Bulletin Number 001" — NOAA, August 15, 2007 23:53 UTC
- "Magnitude 8.0 - NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL PERU" — USGS, August 15, 2007 23:41:01 UTC
External links
[edit]- "Latest Earthquakes M5.0+ in the World - Past 7 days" — USGS, N/A
- "Latest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 days" — USGS, N/A
