Peruvian Earthquake

Since news of the magnitude 8.0 earthquake that rocked Peru first reached Convoy of Hope, staff have been in constant communication, confirming the safety of local partners there and assessing how the Springfield-based international compassion organization can best help. 

Still reeling from Thursday’s initial blow, people there are now enduring more than 100 aftershocks, some lasting more than 2 minutes, and have very little shelter, sparse communications, and no electricity or clean water. Fearing the last of the standing buildings will collapse, hundreds of injured people are lined up on cots in the open air. Peru is currently in its winter season and victims are begging for water, medical supplies, tents, blankets and warm clothing.

From Panama, Kenton Moody, International Director said, “Our teams are prepared to leave for the area, but because of the severely compromised infrastructure, we’re evaluating the best way to respond logistically.”

Through an ongoing partnership with FedEx, Convoy of Hope will be shipping relief supplies to Miami. The Peruvian Air Force will then airlift the supplies to the most severely affected areas. 

Most infrastructure is destroyed or severely compromised, limiting communication and transportation. Airports are closed and most roads, including the main arterial Pan American Highway, are closed or extremely difficult to navigate with circuitous detours and the Peruvian Government is not accepting shipping contains due to the extreme logistical complications.

Convoy of Hope’s local partners have been assessing the most devastated areas, reporting, “The four main cities that were affected are Pisco (population 110,000), 70-80% destroyed; Chincha (25 miles from the epicenter, population 155,000), 40% destroyed; Ica (60 miles south of Chincha) 40% destroyed; and Cañete (50 miles north of Chincha) 30% destroyed.”

More than 500 people have lost their lives with another 1,500 injured. Many of the victims are employees of three separate hospitals that collapsed on top of the employees. A prison with 600 inmates was also destroyed with only 90 being captured at the time of this writing.

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