Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Alert - Peru
EARTHQUAKE - PERU
Geneva,  June 24, 2001


A major earthquake, of a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter Scale (according
to the United States Geophysics Institute) and lasting about 40 seconds,
occurred in the South West of Peru on 23 June, 2001 at 15:33 local time.  
The epicentre for the earthquake was 82 km north-east of Ocona, in
Arequipa, 1.030 Km to the south of Lima, the capital of the Country. 106
aftershocks has been felt.  The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring
countries Chile and Bolivia.

The most affected Provinces are Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna.  
Preliminary reports indicate some 50 dead and 814 persons injured. The
death toll is expected to rise as many persons have been reported missing.
In Moquegua, 70% of the houses were destroyed. Disruption of water,
electrical supplies and telecommunications are reported. The Pan-American
high way is cut off.

The ACT members in Peru, DIACONIA and PREDES, have dispatched their
emergency teams to the affected areas in order to assess the situation and
the needs. They will shortly begin aid and reconstruction activities. The
situation for the affected is precarious due to temperatures in the region
are being very low during the night and, in the highlands can drop under 0
degrees.

Other ACT members in the region are on the alert and ready to mobilise
their emergency teams to support the ACT members in Perú if required.

An initial Rapid Response Payment of US$ 20,000 will be sent to PREDES. An
ACT appeal is likely to be issued shortly. Some of the relief items most
needed are likely to be blankets, tents, water, food and medicines.

ACT members in Peru will continue to report on the situation as it
develops.

Thank you for your attention.


For further information please contact:

ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or 
mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055)

ACT Appeals Officer, Elsa Moreno (phone +41 22 791 6420 or 
mobile phone 41 79 6088133)



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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of 
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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   Ecumenical Centre                          Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33
   150, route de Ferney                         Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06
   P.O. Box 2100                             E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org
   1211 Geneva 2                              Telex: 415 730 OIK CH
   Switzerland                                 http://www.act-intl.org


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