Peru earthquake damages seven churches
Written by Sunny Unachi on 30th November 2021
An earthquake which shook an Amazonian region of Peru over the weekend has seen 75 homes destroyed and damage to seven churches.
The 7.5 magnitude earthquake, in the north, was felt as far as the country’s capital Lima, in the centre of the country, according to reuters reports.
No-one is known to have died, but four people were reported injured in the earthquake which had a recorded depth of 112 km
Youtube videos showed people being pulled from buildings and women comforting children in the dusty Peruvian streets.
The National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci) said in a statement that 220 homes were affected, 81 of which were made uninhabitable and 75 destroyed.
Seven places of religious worship and two shopping centers were among damaged facilities, they added.
Walter Culqui, mayor of the town of Jalca Grande in Chachapoyas province, said several houses had been damaged, leaving three non-serious injuries. Part of the church tower in the area had also collapsed, he said.
Electricity cuts were reported in several locations in jungle areas. Local TV images showed stretches of roads blocked by huge rocks and dirt that had been knocked loose.
The country’s president, Pedro Castillo, visited the zone affected by a quake in Jalca Grande, in the Amazonas region, to offer condolences to those affected.
President Pedro Castillo tweeted: “All my solidarity with the people of Amazonas in the face of the strong earthquake. I have arranged for the ministries and agencies of the executive branch to implement immediate action. You are not alone, brothers. We will support those affected by structural damage.”
Some residents left their homes as a precaution, according to local radio and television reports.
