At least 4 killed in Peru quake

By Maria Paz Salas

SANTIAGO, Chile (AA) – At least four victims were killed and 52 others injured when a strong earthquake hit southern Peru, authorities said Monday.

The epicenter of the magnitude 5.3 quake struck the Arequipa region at 9.58 p.m. local time (2058GMT) Sunday in the town of Chivay, the capital of Calloyma province.

One American tourist was killed when the ceilings collapsed at the hotel in which he was staying, according to local Gov. Cipriano Llasa.

Resulting landslides destroyed 80 houses and blocked main roads, a civil defense official said.

"There were no lights, no beds. The electricity has got cut off. We still have water but we don't know what will happen next”, according to Arequipa Gov. Yamila Osorio, who spoke to local radio station RPP.

President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said via Twitter that he sent a humanitarian aid shipment to Arequipa.

“We are bringing aid to Caylloma and the districts affected by the quake. The vice president [Martin] Vizcarra is already in the area and the Defense Minister will take help,” he said.

Earthquakes are common in Peru because of its geographical location and the shallow depth of the current tremor, just 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the surface, increased the likelihood of damage.

In 2007, almost 600 victims where killed died when a magnitude 8.9 quake hit the central coast area.