Earthquake in Southern Peru Kills At Least Nine

The magnitude 5.4 quake struck near Colca Canyon, a popular tourist attraction 

LIMA, Peru—An earthquake in southern Peru has left at least nine people dead, including a U.S. citizen, as buildings collapsed in a remote region that is popular with tourists, the government said Monday.
The magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck late Sunday about 4 miles from the town of Chivay in the Colca Canyon, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The canyon, which is about twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, is popular with tourists for hiking and watching the large Andean condor bird.
The earthquake wasn’t large for Peru, but it caused damage due to the epicenter’s proximity to rural towns and its shallow depth of about 6 miles. Local media showed images of collapsed homes and churches. Roads into the canyon were blocked by landslides triggered by the quake.
Yamila Osorio, the governor of the Arequipa state, where the quake occurred, told RPP Noticias on Monday that at least nine people had died and dozens more were injured as at least 80 homes collapsed. Civil defense agency Indeci identified one of the victims as a 66-year-old American.
Ms. Osorio said efforts to reach the area were slowed by blocked roads into the rugged, mountainous region.
“Our teams haven’t been able to reach many of the districts,” Ms. Osorio said.
The mayor of Caylloma, one of the towns in the area, said communication was down between many of the towns in the Colca Canyon. “We felt a very strong tremor that caused havoc in the entire Colca valley,” the mayor, Romulo Tinta, said.
President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who took office less than three weeks ago, said the government was sending help to the canyon and that Vice President Martin Vizcarra was in the area to assess damage.
The government planned to declare an emergency in the area, while health officials had reached the area to provide medical assistance, state news agency Andina reported. The Defense Ministry said it would provide three helicopters to assist rescue workers.
The last major earthquake to strike Peru occurred nine years ago to the day. The magnitude 8.0 quake killed over 500 people and injured more than 1,000, according to the USGS.

  http://www.wsj.com/articles/earthquake-in-southern-peru-kills-at-least-nine-1471281714