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Peru capital rocked by earthquake Peru capital rocked by earthquake
(30 minutes later)
An earthquake of magnitude at least 7.5 has hit Peru, centred 160km (100 miles) from the capital, Lima, the US Geological Survey reports.An earthquake of magnitude at least 7.5 has hit Peru, centred 160km (100 miles) from the capital, Lima, the US Geological Survey reports.
It hit near the town of Chincha Alta, and was 40km (25 miles) below the earth's surface, the USGS said.It hit near the town of Chincha Alta, and was 40km (25 miles) below the earth's surface, the USGS said.
The force of the quake shook buildings in the capital in two bursts of about 20 seconds each, witnesses said, and caused some power failures.The force of the quake shook buildings in the capital in two bursts of about 20 seconds each, witnesses said, and caused some power failures.
A tsunami warning has been issued for Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia.A tsunami warning has been issued for Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia.
"It's a really powerful quake," Victor Sardina of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii, told the BBC.
"It's relatively shallow, though that actually can cause a lot of damage to structures."
'Violent shaking'
Reports say that there has been some damage to buildings in Lima, but so far there is no word on injuries.Reports say that there has been some damage to buildings in Lima, but so far there is no word on injuries.
Witnesses reported hundreds of residents running into the streets, after the tremors were felt at 1840 (2340 GMT).Witnesses reported hundreds of residents running into the streets, after the tremors were felt at 1840 (2340 GMT).
"I heard quite violent shaking, books falling off the bookcase, lampshade falling over and pictures falling off the wall, and I went to the safe-zone by the lift," said the BBC's Dan Collyns in Lima."I heard quite violent shaking, books falling off the bookcase, lampshade falling over and pictures falling off the wall, and I went to the safe-zone by the lift," said the BBC's Dan Collyns in Lima.
"Fortunately I live in a building which has been specially built to deal with earthquakes and tremors, which are quite common in Lima and around Peru."Fortunately I live in a building which has been specially built to deal with earthquakes and tremors, which are quite common in Lima and around Peru.
"But in other parts of Lima, where the buildings are often of very poor quality, there will have been considerable damage, I would imagine.""But in other parts of Lima, where the buildings are often of very poor quality, there will have been considerable damage, I would imagine."
Lima resident Cristyane Marusiak told Reuters news agency: "People here are hugging and crying in fear on the streets."Lima resident Cristyane Marusiak told Reuters news agency: "People here are hugging and crying in fear on the streets."
Are you in the Peruvian capital or surrounding areas? Have you felt the effects of the earthquake? Send us your observations.
Are you in the Peruvian capital or surrounding areas? Have you felt the effects of the earthquake? Send us your observations.
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