Earthquake Death Toll in Peru Grows to 102The number of the deceased in the aftermath of the earthquake jolting southern Peru has risen to 102, while the number of homeless amounts to 40,470, the National Civil Defense Institute (INDECI) announced Tuesday.INDECI said the number of injured grew to 1,368, and the number of destroyed houses increased to 11,114, whereas the number of missing individuals remained at 53. A strong earthquake measuring 6.0 degrees on Richter scale jolted Peru's southern states of Arequipa, Ayacucho, Tacna and Moquegua last Saturday. The epicenter of this telluric phenomenon was located at the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometers northwest of the town of Ocona. The situation worsened Monday with the occurrence of more than 100 aftershocks, the INDECI added. In the most affected states of Moquegua and Arequipa, 80 percent of the constructions collapsed, and main roads, irrigation systems and electric networks of these cities were damaged. Peruvian authorities have sent to the moment 92 tons of humanitarian assistance for victims, though it is not enough, and the press has reported rescue operations have not even been launched in many localities. |
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