Peru Earthquake 2007 Profile

For latest information, go to: OCHA's Peru Earthquake Emergency

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 degrees on the Richter scale struck Peru on the early evening of Wednesday 15 August 2007, devastating hospitals, schools, churches and government buildings in Pisco, and seriously affecting Chincha Alta, Ica and Cañete on the Peruvian Pacific coast.

Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator stated, “the United Nations is there to help local officials to provide a coordinated response.”

A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team was deployed on 17 August to carry out rapid assessments of priority needs, in support of national authorities and the United Nations country team, and to coordinate international relief efforts.

Preliminary damage and needs assessment

Preliminary damage assessment
Deaths already certified	514
Injured	1,090
Houses destroyed*	39,741
Houses affected	6,300
Hospitals destroyed*	52
Hospitals affected	43
* according to Peruvian Government preliminary assessments

Summary statistics up to August 23 (07:00 hrs), according to the official report issued by the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI), are shown on the right.

Preliminary results of UN Inter-Agency Assessment indicate that priority needs identified are dry latrines, housing materials (wood, plastic roofs), blankets, clothing and disposable surgery materials. In addition, a public hygiene campaign (such as radio spots) has been recommended to educate the population on clean water, hygiene, and food to avoid epidemics.

The UNDAC team conducted assessments to Canete, San Luis, Chincha, Ica, and Pisco primarily to look at the shelter situation. Credible data was collected to support the appeals made to the national and international community for assistance.

For more info, see our latest Situation Reports