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| Search for Peru quake survivors | Search for Peru quake survivors |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Rescuers have been working through the night trying to find survivors of the devastating earthquake that hit Peru's central coast. | Rescuers have been working through the night trying to find survivors of the devastating earthquake that hit Peru's central coast. |
| They were given hope when a man was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed church in the town of Pisco, more than 24 hours after the tremor. | They were given hope when a man was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed church in the town of Pisco, more than 24 hours after the tremor. |
| The death toll from Wednesday's 8.0-magnitude quake has risen above 500, according to Peru's fire service. | The death toll from Wednesday's 8.0-magnitude quake has risen above 500, according to Peru's fire service. |
| A series of aftershocks have hit the affected areas, causing panic. | A series of aftershocks have hit the affected areas, causing panic. |
| The worst damage from the earthquake was in the coastal cities of Ica and Pisco, south of the capital Lima. | The worst damage from the earthquake was in the coastal cities of Ica and Pisco, south of the capital Lima. |
| See map of the affected area | See map of the affected area |
| Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes, while power supplies, telecommunications and road links have been severely disrupted. | Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes, while power supplies, telecommunications and road links have been severely disrupted. |
| Hospitals and morgues have been overwhelmed, and the bodies of many victims that have been recovered from the rubble are lying on the streets. | Hospitals and morgues have been overwhelmed, and the bodies of many victims that have been recovered from the rubble are lying on the streets. |
| The head of the Peruvian fire service, Roberto Ocno, told AFP news agency: "The toll has jumped to between 500 and 510 dead and 1,600 injured. There are dead trapped under houses." | The head of the Peruvian fire service, Roberto Ocno, told AFP news agency: "The toll has jumped to between 500 and 510 dead and 1,600 injured. There are dead trapped under houses." |
| 'A miracle' | 'A miracle' |
| In Pisco, firefighters, police officers, soldiers and volunteers worked under floodlights to dig through the ruins of the church in the main square. | In Pisco, firefighters, police officers, soldiers and volunteers worked under floodlights to dig through the ruins of the church in the main square. |
| I never experienced such a long and strong earthquake in Peru. It felt like it would never end Marcia, Lima Supplies short in quake town Eyewitness accounts In pictures: Peru quake Hundreds of people were buried when the building collapsed during a Mass, but the discovery of the male survivor lifted the rescuers. | I never experienced such a long and strong earthquake in Peru. It felt like it would never end Marcia, Lima Supplies short in quake town Eyewitness accounts In pictures: Peru quake Hundreds of people were buried when the building collapsed during a Mass, but the discovery of the male survivor lifted the rescuers. |
| "This is virtually a miracle, hopefully we can find more," said Carlos Cordova Gomez, chief of Peru's voluntary firefighters. | "This is virtually a miracle, hopefully we can find more," said Carlos Cordova Gomez, chief of Peru's voluntary firefighters. |
| Juan Mendoza, mayor of Pisco, told a radio station that "the dead are scattered by the dozens on the streets". | Juan Mendoza, mayor of Pisco, told a radio station that "the dead are scattered by the dozens on the streets". |
| He estimated that 70% of the city was in ruins. | He estimated that 70% of the city was in ruins. |
| "We don't have lights, water, communications. Most houses have fallen, churches, stores, hotels, everything is destroyed," he said. | "We don't have lights, water, communications. Most houses have fallen, churches, stores, hotels, everything is destroyed," he said. |
| The BBC's Luis del Valle, in Pisco, says people are in shock and local civil defence officials have acknowledged they have been overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster. | |
| The mayor of Ica, Mariano Nacimento, told the BBC's Spanish Americas service that his town was desperately in need of clean water, medicine and tents. | |
| The authorities are also trying to reach remote villages and hamlets in the region, from where there has so far been no news. | |
| Relief effort | Relief effort |
| The government said helicopters and planes were taking emergency aid to affected areas, and injured people are being airlifted out. | |
| How earthquakes happen Earthquake timeline | |
| President Alan Garcia has visited the region and sent condolences to the families of the victims. Three days of national mourning have been declared. | |
| An international humanitarian relief effort has been mobilised. | An international humanitarian relief effort has been mobilised. |
| Peru's neighbours - including Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Chile - have sent relief supplies. | Peru's neighbours - including Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Chile - have sent relief supplies. |
| Help is also coming from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy and France. | Help is also coming from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy and France. |
| The United Nations said it was ready to help, while the International Federation of the Red Cross said it had sent two planes loaded with supplies. | The United Nations said it was ready to help, while the International Federation of the Red Cross said it had sent two planes loaded with supplies. |
| The earthquake happened in one of the most seismically active regions of the world. | The earthquake happened in one of the most seismically active regions of the world. |
| In 1970, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake high in the Peruvian Andes triggered a landslide that buried the town of Yungay and killed 66,000 people. | In 1970, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake high in the Peruvian Andes triggered a landslide that buried the town of Yungay and killed 66,000 people. |
| Return to story | Return to story |
Are you in Peru? Are you affected by the earthquake? Send us your observations. | Are you in Peru? Are you affected by the earthquake? Send us your observations. |
| You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |