On Wednesday 15th August 2007, at 18:40 (local time in Peru), an 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck the central coast of Peru, due to the convergence of the Nazca and South American plate, moving at a rate of 78mm per year.

The cities of Pisco, Ica and Chincha Alta in the Lima Region were most affected by the earthquake. A church collapsed in the city of Inca during mass, resulting in 17 deaths and another 70 injured. This disastrous earthquake destroyed more than 58,000 homes. 260km southeast of Lima, the city of Pisco was about 80% destroyed, and caused as many as 510 deaths.

The Government initialed the search for survivors under the rubble, and evacuating the injured. For those victims who had lost their homes, shelter, food aid, clean water, medical services and education were provided for the victims. Approximately $37 million was raised in the wake of the earthquake.

Personally, I think that the Government should educate his citizens on how to prepare themselves, what to do, where to go and how to get help when a disaster strikes. For example, they could hide under the tables when they feel the vibrations. Warning the citizens when something is about to happen is important too.





Done By : Lim Sze Leng (19)
Sec 1 Diligence

Bibliography :

• (author's name not specified), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Peru_earthquake#Tectonic_summary , extracted 27-2-2010

• U.S Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: World Data Center,

  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2007gbcv.php#summary , extracted 28-2-2010

• Reuters, http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/08/15/peru.earthquake/ , extracted 28-2-2010

Pictures from :

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6949478.stm

• http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/16/world/americas/16cnd-peru.html