An earthquake struck Peru on Wednesday, August 15 , 2007 at a magnitude of 8.0. It hit the central coast of Peru and the epicenter was at 150 km south-southeast of Lima. It was 39 km deep. Altogether 519 people were confirmed dead and 1,366 people were injured. 39,741 houses were destroyed, 6,300 houses affected, 52 hospitals destroyed and 43 hospitals were affected. The United States Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center disclosed this was a very strong earthquake.
This earthquake occurred at the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, which are converging at a rate of 78mm (3.1) in a year. The earthquake occurred as thrust-faulting on the interface between the two plates, with the South American plate moving up and seaward over the Nazca plate.
The Government of Peru led the response to the earthquake through the National Civil Defence System. The initial response was to search for survivors and evacuate the injured. Urgent medical services had to be set up and also food, shelter and clean water had to be provided. A tsunami warning was issued for Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia and even Hawaii after the earthquakes, but was cancelled when only a 25 centimetre tsunami came ashore.
I think the government should learn from the damage of the earthquake and try to gather information on which buildings collapsed and which ones did not. That way, they will know which type of foundation can hold through the earthquake and develop it, to minimize damage from such events.
Video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNYGTIQV-9Y
Website
http://wapedia.mobi/en/2007_Peru_earthquake , extracted 27-02-2010
Website
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-08-15-peru-quake_N.htm , extracted 18-02-2010
Website
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Peru_earthquake , extracted 27-02-2010
Website
http://ochaonline.un.org/AboutOCHA/NaturalDisasters/PeruEarthquake2007/tabid/2025/language/en-US/Default.aspx, 14-02-2010
By Lee Soong Wai Esther (15)
1 Unity
St Nicholas Girls
