EARTHQUAKE HITS PERU

Below are excerpts from emails written to us from Marko Dolan (Program and Training Officer) during this natural disaster, which occured on Wednesday August 15th 2007.




AUGUST 15TH 2007
As most of you know, last night at approximately 6:40pm an earthquake measuring 8.0 struck the department of Ica with Pisco and Chincha the most effected. There are reported to be more than 450 deaths and 1,500 injured. Lima and Arequipa were also effected by the earthquake, but damage was considerably less with only one fatality reported. Regarding Peace Corps Volunteers and Staff, we feel extremely fortunate that the five Volunteers working in Ica were not in the department at the time. They are safe and accounted for.

The roads are transitable from Lima to Pisco, but only passenger vehicles are allowed since at least one of the bridges between Ica and Pisco has suffered structural damage. Due to safety concerns, however, Volunteer travel to Ica is prohibited until further notice.

On the positive side, all planned programming and training events will take place as scheduled. Despite the intensity of the earthquake, neither the training center nor the Surco office were effected.

In response this natural disaster we have activated the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) putting all Volunteers are on "Alert " status. What this means is that we are in the process of contacting all of you to make sure you are okay and are aware of last night's earthquake. So far, we have contacted almost everyone, but we are still unable to get a hold of the following Volunteers:

Susannah Brower
Rachel Levy

If anyone knows there whereabouts please let us know. We need to speak to them directly in order to complete the instructions detailed in the EAP.

Lastly, if you haven't contacted your family I would highly recommend that you at least write them. PC/Washington has received many calls and emails from concerned parents requesting news.

Thanks for your understanding during these difficult times. Our prayers go out to the towns and communities of Ica.

Keep safe and I will send out another update tomorrow.


Marko