By DPA
Lima : The strongest quake that struck Peru in the last 50 years flattened two towns in the centre of the country Wednesday, claimed at least 115 lives and injured more than 1,000 persons, leaving behind a “dramatic” situation in the region, Health Minister Carlos Vallejos said Thursday.
The towns of Ica and Pisco, where the quake struck, were scenes of devastation with buildings destroyed and the electricity supplies cut off.
The number of casualties arriving for treatment reportedly overwhelmed hospitals, which were also damaged in the quake.
The Peruvian Air Force had set up an air bridge between the capital Lima and Ica in order to start delivering relief goods to the stricken town.
Rescue workers continued to look for survivors and recover bodies through Wednesday night.
President Alan Garcia appealed for calm and called an emergency session of his cabinet. Schools were ordered closed Thursday and all police officers were called out onto the streets. Hospitals were ordered to treat all patients without exception.
Health Ministry doctors had been on strike when the quake struck, but they immediately called off their work stoppage to treat the injured.
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.
Institute spokesman Hernando Tavera said it was the strongest quake to strike Peru in the past 50 years and he cautioned that there could be some powerful aftershocks in the next four to seven days.
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 pm (2341 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 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 also 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 in Lima of heart attacks.