Anna Nelson of the International Federation
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is releasing 250,000 Swiss francs (US$205,000/ euro153,000) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to start mobilizing assistance for the victims of Wednesday’s 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which struck off the coast of central Peru.
The quake hit at around 18:40 local time about 160km (100 miles) from the capital of Lima.
Local media have reported extensive damage in the province of Ica, as well as in the area of Chincha. According to news reports, houses have collapsed and people were taken to hospital, although it’s still too early to tell exactly how many residents may have been affected.
The International Federation’s Pan-American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) was immediately put on high alert and has redeployed two of its disaster management delegates, who were already in Peru helping with a recent cold wave, to the quake-affected area.
PADRU is based in Panama and was established in 1999 to strengthen the Red Cross and Red Crescent’s response capacity in the region, which is highly prone to hurricanes, earthquakes and landslides.
The Peruvian Red Cross also immediately dispatched a National Intervention Team to the epicentre region to evaluate the level of damage and the needs of affected people.
As soon as the PADRU staff and the Peruvian Red Cross team reach the affected area, more information will be made available on the level of damage. The International Federation’s regional office in Lima is also closely monitoring the situation.
Areas near the coast and in the mountains were reportedly shaken by the tremor, which has also caused telephone cuts and power outages. The quake was felt in Lima, where people ran into the streets in panic.
All flights from the international airport in Lima have been temporarily suspended.
Tsunami warnings and advisories were initially issued up and down the coast of Central and South America, as well as Hawaii, but were later cancelled.
For more information, please contact: Marie-Françoise Borel in the Media Service on +41 22 730 4346.