Magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Lima, Peru

At 6:40 p.m. this evening a a 7.9 magnitude struck Lima, Peru shaking buildings across the city.

(The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 7.7 event but officials quickly downgraded it to a 7.5 magnitude temblor. Hours later, it was elevated to the the 7.9 magnitude designation.)

The quake lasted for several minutes but causing no apparent major damage in the capital. Many people fled buildings to wait out the quake in the streets. The violent trembling set off car alarms across the Miraflores section of the city.

The earthquake was felt as far as Loreto, more than 1,000 kilometers away in the northern Amazonian jungle.

No injuries were initially reported in Lima but the Ministry of Health immediately put all hospitals in the country on alert. Peruvian television reports that at least 17 people were killed near Ica when a church collapsed.

In Lima, some taller buildings dropped concrete but no major collapses have been reported in the Peruvian capital. Structures collapsed in other localities around the country, according to early press reports.

Electricity stayed on in Lima but phone lines were down. Internet service was not interrupted and, almost immediately, residents began logging their experiences on a webpage posted by the El Comercio newspaper.

The YouTube videos have started to appear and the one to the right gives a good idea of what the experience felt like.

At this point most seem to be taken from Peruvian newscasts including this one of a children's show filming when the earthquake hit and then immediately evacuating.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey the quake was more than 40 kilometers in depth about 150 kilometers south of Lima just off the coast. the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued a Tsunami warning for the Pacific coast of South and Central America that was later rescinded.

At approximately 7 p.m. a third earthquake of 5.8 magnitude was reported in the region of Huancayo, Peru. This quake was felt in Lima as well. Two 5.9 magnitude aftershocks were recorded near Ica within an hour of the large temblor.

Last updated: 11:31 p.m.

::NOTE:: I am here in Lima and I am fine. It was rather frightening but, thankfully, nothing more than that. I appreciate all the folks who contacted me concerned for my well-being.


Find out more about Peru, South America and my varied interests over on Klephblog.

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