Thu, 14:19 24 Apr 2008 GMT17

 
Peru earthquake 2007

Last reviewed: 13-09-2007

EARTHQUAKE IN THE ANDES


A devastating earthquake shook the area south of Peru's capital Lima on the evening of August 15, 2007, killing 520 and destroying 58,000 homes.

  • 7.9 on Richter scale at epicentre
  • Tens of thousands left homeless
  • 12.5 percent of Peruvians live on less than a dollar a day.

    The coastal province of Ica south of Lima was the hardest hit region, including the cities of Chincha, Ica and Pisco.

    The Andes mountain range, which runs north-to-south along Peru's Pacific coast, has many active fault lines.

    In 1970, an earthquake killed around 50,000 Peruvians in catastrophic avalanches of ice and mud that buried the city of Yungay.

    KEY FACTS


    Population of Peru 27.8 million U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division, 2006
    Life expectancy 70.2 years Human Development Report 2006
    Adult literacy in 2004 87.7 percent Human Development Report 2006
    Population living on less that $1 a day in 2004 12.5 percent Human Development Report 2006
    Per capita GNI in 2005, according to the Atlas method $2,650 World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

    Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.

  • Related articles

    AlertNet insight
    Americas Climate change and conflicts: Is there a link at all?

    Aid agency news feed
    Americas ACT Appeal: Assistance to earthquake victims, Peru, REVISION 1

    Blogs
    Americas Bali climate change talks: 'The long, arduous road' to nowhere?

    Maps
    Observed damage and inundation in north Pisco, Peru


    AlertNet for journalists

    AlertNet for journalists is a set of tools and services designed to make life easier for reporters, fact-checkers and editors when covering humanitarian emergencies.
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-04-18T023440Z_01_PIS09_RTRIDSP_2_PERU_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/PIS09.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-04-18T022648Z_01_PIS03_RTRIDSP_2_PERU_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/PIS03.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-03-30T053632Z_01_IQU01_RTRIDSP_2_PERU_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/IQU01.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-03-30T053131Z_01_IQU11_RTRIDSP_2_PERU_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/IQU11.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-03-30T045817Z_01_IQU08_RTRIDSP_2_PERU_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/IQU08.htm

    Three-year-old Melany plays at what is left of a church in Pisco April 17, 2008 eight months after a 7.9 earthquake hit southern Peru killing about 500 people. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo (PERU) ...


    * Denotes mandatory entry      Rate this item *  
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5


    Name: *     Email: * 
    I am: *     


    Comments:


    Enter the code shown on on the left *




    URL: http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/PE_EAR.htm

    For our full disclaimer and copyright information please visit http://www.alertnet.org