Magnitude 8.0 Quake Strikes Peru

We arrived on a mission trip to Peru approximately two months after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Ica and Lima Regions of Peru. The lady in the foreground looks towards a leveled building in Ica.

On August 17, 2007, the quake hit hard the cities of Ica and Pisco. Over 50,000 homes were destroyed and only 20% of the city of Pisco remained standing. Over 500 people died, with the majority of those in Pisco. Seventy people were killed when a church in Ica collapsed during a service and 148 people were killed when a cathedral collapsed in Pisco. Over 1000 people were injured and more than 100,000 people were left homeless. The quake took down houses made of reed and mud as well as destroying landmark buildings and a much visited rock formation on the coast known as the cathedral. After the initial quake, numerous aftershocks measuring greater than magnitude 5.0 were recorded.

During our visit, thousands of people continued to be homeless and debris lined the streets. We saw very little work with large machines and it appeared that most of the work was being done by hand. Today, recent reports show that many people in the Pisco and Ica areas are still in dire circumstances and need assistance.

The Salvation Army and The Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board members were at the disaster spot almost immediately. You can donate to the Salvation Army Latin American Disaster Fund by clicking on the link below.

https://secure.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?openform&projectid=IHQ-LatinAmerica

or you can send donations to the IMB at the address listed below:

International Mission Board
World Hunger & Relief Ministries
PO Box 6767
Richmond, VA 23230.

For giving assistance or further information,call (800) 999-3113 or e-mail the IMB at WorldHunger@imb.org

Finally, if you need more information please email me and I will provide any assistance I can.