Earthquake Update #4

We just had yet another aftershock.  They are so frightening.

No new news from our churches since the last update.  Once all our churches have been confirmed safe, our National Leadership will determine how we can best offer assistance.

The US Geological Survey has re-evaluated the quake as an 8.0 o the scale.

Below is an article from www.reliefweb.int that sums up the current situation well:

SITUATION

1. At 11:40:58 PM (Greenwich time) 6:34:56 PM local time, an earthquake measuring 7.9 degrees in the Richter scale struck in the Department of Ica. The epicenter was 25 miles (61 kilometers) westnorthwest of Chincha Alta, Peru, and 90 miles (161 kilometers) south-southeast of Lima, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was 30.2 km depth (18.8 miles). The town nearest to the epicentre is Chincha Alta.

2. Several aftershocks have been registered and continue. The effects were also strongly felt in the capital, Lima.

3. According to preliminary reports, the numbers of reported dead and injured have been increasing, with the latest reports of 450 killed and 1,000 injured according to the Peruvian Civil Defence System - Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil -Civil Defense Agency - INDECI).

4. Electricity and communications have been cut off in several regions rendering searches and assessments difficult.

5. The earthquake caused buildings to shake and hundreds of people to run out into the streets after. There are unofficial reports of damages in the provinces of Ica, Chincha, Canete, and Pisco. The INDECI reports that 337 houses collapsed, 2 hotels destroyed, and 2 health centres affected (preliminary assessment). Reports also refer to some damage to the historic centre of Lima

6. All flights from the international airport in Lima have been temporarily suspended.

7. As a preventative measure, a tsunami warning was issued for Chile, Colombia Ecuador and Peru by the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics

NATIONAL RESPONSE

8. The Peruvian Government has declared the state of emergency in the Department of Ica and Cañete province. The President of Peru made in a statement confirmed that all national authorities were on high alert to respond to the situation and that all health services and centres must be on red alert, requesting all doctors to make themselves available and for all services to be free of charge for those who may need it

9. INDECI is currently setting up a situation room to respond to the emergency. An INDECI Assessment Team has been deployed to the provinces of Ica and Chincha. An aerial assessment is planned for August 16.

10. A local team of 40 firemen with USAR capabilities is being deployed to Ica. The Ministry of Health has deployed medical teams to the Ica Department in support to the local hospitals.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

11. The Resident Coordinator’s Office in Lima has activated an Emergency Operations Centre and is holding a meeting of the UN Disaster Management Team.

12. The UN is in close contact with the Government of Peru and has offered support and assistance, including possibly an UN Disaster assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team and the mobilization of Search and Rescue Teams. The UNDMT is awaiting feedback from the Government.

13. Emergency cash grants were released by UNDP (USD 100,000) and OCHA (USD 100,000)

14. The Peruvian Red Cross (PRC) has mobilised a National Intervention Team to the region of the epicentre to assess needs and damages caused to infrastructure. The Regional Representation of the IFRC in Lima is directly supporting the PRC, and both are closely coordinating with INDECI, OCHA and Partner National Societies. IFRC already had staff in the country working on a response to the cold wave, who are being re-allocated temporarily to provide response support.

15. Funds from the IFRC's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) are being made available to support the response if needed.

16. The Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) in Panama is on standby to send tents, blankets, jerry cans and other provisions by plane if needs are confirmed.

17. The Chilean and Colombian Red Cross have offered their support to the National Society in Peru if needed.

18. Spain has also offered assistance and sent a rescue team of 15 rescuers and four sniffer dogs.

19. Oxfam deployed a team to Pisco and Chincha to assess most urgent needs of the affected population.

20. OCHA continues to closely monitor the situation, including through the Regional Office in Panama, and remains in contact, with the Resident Coordinator and will provide further updates on the situation.

21. This situation report together with further information on ongoing emergencies is also available on the OSOCC Internet Website http://www.unocha.org/vosocc and on the OCHA Internet Website http://www.reliefweb.int/.