By DPA
Lima : At least 71 people were killed and more than 680 injured in the most powerful earthquake to hit Peru in 50 years, measuring at least 7.5 on the Richter scale. The situation was particularly horrendous in the towns of Ica and Pisco in central Peru, Deputy Health Minister Jose Calderon said in the Peruvian capital here.
Rescue workers continued to look for survivors and recover bodies through Wednesday night.
The Peruvian Geophysical Institute in Lima said that the initial quake reached a magnitude of 7.5, with dozens of aftershocks, three of which were very strong.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said in its most recent report that the quake, which was also felt in Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia, reached a magnitude of 7.9.
The initial, most powerful shock struck at 6:41 p.m. (23.41 GMT) Wednesday and sent about two minutes of tremors running from its epicentre near the city of Pisco, about 45 km west-north-west of Chincha Alta, and 145 km south-south-east of Lima, the USGS said.
The epicentre was located 41 km beneath the ocean. A preliminary tsunami warning has since been lifted.
Damage was extensive in Ica in the most powerful earthquake Peru had seen in 50 years as well as in the provinces of Canete and Chincha.
Dozens of houses collapsed and people were taken to hospital, news reports said.
In Ica city, a church collapsed, and many of the province’s fatalities were caused when its cupola fell.
The 160,000 residents of the city were also without electricity as fire fighters and other rescue workers looked through the rubble in the dark for survivors.
Damage was limited in Lima, but the quake caused panic and chaos there.
Thousands fled onto the streets from apartments and offices. Telephone service was cut and windows shattered.
Hospitals reported treating injuries caused by broken glass and patients suffering shock and panic. Two people died of heart attacks in Lima.