Aftershocks continue in northern Peru; more than 700 injured by earthquake

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A new aftershock of magnitude 3.8 was felt this Saturday (31) in the Piura region, after the earthquake of magnitude 6.1 of the day before that has left so far more than 700 injured and at least 187 houses affected in this area of northern Peru.

The aftershock was reported by the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) at 8 AM local time (13.00 GMT). The epicenter was 14 kilometers southwest of Sullana, at a depth of 35 kilometers, and followed others during the early morning.

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Sullana was the closest coastal city to the epicenter of Friday’s earthquake, where the earth movement was strongly felt and has caused damage to buildings of all kinds, as well as roads and road infrastructure.

According to the latest report from the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN), Friday’s earthquake in Sullana left six houses uninhabitable, out of a total of 187 affected; 24 people were affected, and 721 injured people are being evaluated by health personnel.

In addition, six public buildings, five hospitals or health centers, and four religious temples were damaged, including the main church of Sullana, which lost part of its exterior cornice.

The earthquake also affected a school, a shopping center, which suffered flooding due to broken pipes, a bridge, a 50-meter stretch of road, irrigation canals, and electric power service in several points of Piura.

The Sectoral Emergency Operations Center (COES) of the Ministry of Health set up a tent for the injured at the Sullana II-2 Support Hospital. The Ministry of Housing, Construction, and Sanitation brought heavy machinery to remove debris.

Likewise, water and sewage services were suspended in several Piura communities, among them Sullana, Paita, Talara, and Chulucanas, due to the power outage.

After the strong earthquake, which was felt at 12.10 PM local time (17.10 GMT) on Friday, the president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, left the traditional military parade for the Peruvian independence celebrations and went to Piura, located 990 kilometers north of Lima.

The vast majority of those affected suffered minor contusions, although three suffered more serious injuries, including a pregnant woman, an adult man, and a 2-year-old girl. According to local media, the woman was injured by a falling wall, while the man suffered a traumatism, and the girl apparently fell from a second-floor while trying to leave her house.

Peru is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire area, where approximately 85% of the world’s seismic activity is registered.

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