Massive earthquake

last updated 8 January 2015

Pisco, Peru

At least 540 people died last week in Peru’s worst earthquake in 37 years. The magnitude-8 quake destroyed more than 35,000 homes, including 85 percent of those in the fishing port of Pisco, the hardest-hit city. At least 148 people in Pisco were killed at a Catholic church when the roof caved in during a funeral service. International donors have pledged $40 million in relief aid, but critics said government bureaucracy was preventing it from being distributed quickly. “Nobody is going to die of hunger or thirst,” said President Alan Garcia. “There is no reason to fall into exaggerated desperation.”