“STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR ALL WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE MAJOR EARTHQUAKE IN PISCO, ICA AND CAÑETE”

Description of the Event

A strong earthquake occurred at 6.40 p.m. of August 15, with its epicenter located out at sea, 60 kilometers west of Pisco, at a depth of 33 kilometers. Geology services confirmed the location of the epicenter at 148 kilometers south-southwest of Lima and 110 kilometers northwest of Ica.

Subsequently, several related minor tremors occurred. Seismic motion was felt strongly at various points in the capital. In Downtown Lima, workers left their buildings to gather in groups in the streets. Likewise, the movement was felt along the whole Peruvian coast, reaching the coast of Colombia.

The U.S. Geological Service (USGS) reported that the earthquake registered 7,6 degrees on the Richter scale. Panic and chaos took over in a number of Lima’s streets where some buildings collapsed.

Victim Report

The day following three violent ‘quake revealed a picture of desolation. According to the General Corps of Firemen of Peru, at least 150 dead and over 1,500 injured are the new figures for the earthquake that shook a considerable area of Peru. The greatest number of victims to date were in the town of Pisco, one of the most affected, where it is feared that there are many more victims as a church full of people collapsed, burying the worshippers.

The Mayor of Pisco, Juan Mendoza, described the tragic situation with a dramatic testimony given in the midst of weeping, “70% of the town is destroyed and we have hundreds of dead lying in the streets, and injured in the hospitals, this is totally indescribable,” he added with tears. “We have no water, we have no communication system, houses have collapsed, the churches are destroyed,” he stated after making an urgent plea to the government for medical aid for his city of some 130,000 inhabitants.

The devastating panorama extended to the Department of Ica where there are close on 70 dead and 800 injured, Health and emergency services in Ica are swamped, and their capacity for care is lacking areas, of personnel, medicines and clinical and surgical services has collapsed.

Declaration of Emergency

President of the Republic, Alan García Pérez, issued a message to the nation at 9 p.m. through the media, calling for calmness and declaring the State of Emergency in the Department (of Ica) and the suspension of classes throughout national territory.

Minister of Health, Carlos Vallejos, announced that all health establishments in the nation, both state and private, were in a state of red alert, and that any person needing their services, could apply to them.

The Pacific Tsunami Alert Center issued a tsunami warning to the west coast of South America, covering Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia.

The port authorities of Callao have adopted measures for the evacuation of the area most exposed in the district of La Punta.

Appeal from the Catholic Church

Pope Benedict XVII has made known in a cable sent to the affected dioceses that he is profoundly sorry for the victims and injured caused by the earthquake. In a cable signed by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope “offers prayers to the Lord for the eternal rest of the dead, and begs that his sincere condolences be expressed to the families.”

The President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, Monseñor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, requested Caritas of Peru as the institution that will channel aid to the disaster area through Caritas Diocesan Networks.

For this purpose, the President of Caritas of Peru, Monseñor Miguel Irizar, issued an appeal for solidarity and for all possible aid to be given to the affected areas. “We need medicines, tents, foodstuffs and all the aid that you can give. We are coordinating with the parishes of the area in order to aid all affected persons”, said Monseñor Guido Breña, Bishop of Ica.

Likewise, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani expressed his solidarity with the families that have lost loved ones because of the violent earthquake, and that “all bishops everywhere are very close to you in prayer and especially to the people of Ica, Cañete, Chincha and Pisco.”

"SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF LIFE: "EMERGENCY FOR ALL WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE MAJOR EARTHQUAKE IN PISCO, ICA AND CAÑETE"

A team from Cáritas del Perú team has traveled to the city of Ica to coordinate the aid with the network of Church parishes and institutions, and also obtain first-hand information on the damages caused.

For this Campaign it is required with extreme urgency to receive donations of basic supplies as well as money donations that may be deposited in the following bank accounts:

Local Donations:

    Banco Scotiabank del Perú:

    Current Account (Soles) 0005074657
    Current Account (US Dollars) 0003022500

    Banco de Comercio del Perú:

    Current Account (Soles) 210-01-2275792
    Current Account (US Dollars)210-02-1035747

    Telephone Calls:

    Each time you dial 107 (from an open Teléfonica line) you will be donating S/.5.00. This     will be charged in your next telephone bill.

Donations are being received at the Cáritas del Perú Warehouse, located on Calle Omicrón 492, Parque Industrial - Callao (block 58 of Av. Colonial).
Telephone: 613-5200


* Please call Cáritas del Perú to confirm needs and quantities.

OF GREATEST NECESSITY

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

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