(PERU, LANKAPUVATH) –A huge earthquake off south-western Peru’s Pacific coast has killed at least one person and injured at least 65, as buildings collapsed.
The magnitude 7.1 tremor struck at 04:18 local time (09:18 GMT), at a depth of 36km (22 miles), 40km south-west of Acari (population 4,445).
President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said rescue teams were on their way to verify the extent of the damage,
The areas affected are mainly rural and blocked roads are slowing down aid.
Early reports that 17 people were missing at a collapsed mine were later discounted.
The area between the South America and Nazca plates, where the tremor occurred, is prone to earthquakes, with 13 above magnitude 6.5 occurring over the past century, the US Geological Survey says.
Falling rock crushed a man to death in the town of Yauca, in Arequipa, officials confirmed.
Arequipa Governor Yamila Osorio said adobe houses had collapsed in some areas and landslides were blocking some roads. Power cuts were also reported.
(BBC)
