From Deseret News archives:

LDS Church assessing quake damage

Frantic families try to contact their loved ones in Peru

Published: Friday, Aug. 17, 2007 12:09 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Giancilo Vergel, 22, struggled to finish a final exam at Brigham Young University Wednesday after receiving news of the 8.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated his Peruvian homeland.

"I was really, really scared," said Vergel, whose parents live in Lima. "I tried to call to Lima. There was no answer."

Vergel unsuccessfully tried several times to reach his parents, an experience several Utahns with loved ones in Peru reported as calls were unable to get through or were dropped. Finally, Vergel's parents called him. They were safe.

Late Thursday, LDS Church officials were still trying to assess the impact of Wednesday night's earthquake on their members and property holdings in the Ica region south of Lima, Peru, where government officials have declared a state of emergency.

Church spokesman Scott Trotter said the church is working with Peru's Civil Defense Agency and plans to provide 10,000 blankets and other emergency response supplies like tents and basic camping equipment.

Meanwhile, members of the Utah Peruvian community banded together to collect financial donations at Wells Fargo Bank branches under the Peru Relief Effort account, in coordination with the Peruvian consulate. There are also donation sites along the Wasatch Front for items such as bottled water, warm clothing and sleeping bags.

Story continues below
"Your prayers are welcome, and your good wishes for our brothers and sisters in Peru," said Alberto Puretas of Orem said at a press conference.

As to whether any LDS members in the affected region had been injured or killed, he said local church leaders on the ground were still trying to assess the situation. Church officials said earlier that all missionaries were safe and that there had been little or no damage to the LDS temple and the Missionary Training Center, both located in Lima.

The church has more than 430,000 members, 735 congregations and seven missions in Peru.

Meanwhile, several LDS families with missionaries in the affected region contacted each other, trying to get any word about their children.

Recent comments

Peru is a great nation full of wonderful people. My prayers go out to...

Hopethey'reok | Aug. 17, 2007 at 8:46 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

I'll be there when you do IT!!! You are the MAN!

Timpview.. WOW!! You made your classmates so proud to be there and cheer you...

He will melt like a snowman on 11/28. Three total picks, (two six picks)....

Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals

Utah by 14. Go UTES!!!

To those who say Glenn will take us back to the America our grandfathers knew...

Air Force wants to make it 'Big 4'

BYU is yet to prove they are better than Utah. We will see on 11/28 when BYU...

IT IS GOING TO BE A HARD FOUGHT GAME!!!!!! MOST OFTEN IT IS WITHIN 3 POINTS...

Man recalls running from KGB

I remember my father Kevin Matthews telling of your ordeal that occurred in...

The comment about girls wanting to be good athletes means they have to be...

Lets give props to Coach Clark [O cordeniater]. He led the O to be 15th in...

Advertisements