From Deseret News archives:

Hundreds of graves mark earthquake-ravaged city in Peru

Published: Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007 12:31 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
PISCO, Peru — No site in this ruined city rivaled in misery that of its cemetery on Friday, where hundreds of people milled around freshly dug graves. Each coffin bore the name of its occupant scribbled in magic marker, and gravestones wedged into the dirt were marked with chalk.

Two days after a powerful earthquake killed at least 510 people and injured 1,500, clouds of dust rose around frenzied gravediggers making way for more corpses, and military transport planes bringing aid roared overhead.

In a quarter of the cemetery set aside for the youngest victims of the earthquake, a tearful family gathered at a new grave marked "Ricardo G. Torres Farfan, 2 anos."

Near the entrance to Pisco, mobs of residents looted cars and trucks bringing food and medical supplies to the city, breaking windshields with rocks, thrusting their arms through open car windows and racing on foot from one promising-looking automobile to another. Outnumbered police shot their guns into the air in attempts to disperse the crowd.

On the Pan-American highway from Lima, the earthquake tore large chunks of asphalt from the highway and created zigzagging crevices in many parts of the road.

The government was coming in for early criticism that it was not moving fast enough to aid the victims and restore order.

Story continues below
"There is no authority here," said Roberto Angulo, 38, a construction worker, as he wandered in front of the ruins of Pisco's church. "It's like we're dispensable."

Pledges of international contributions to aid and rescue efforts has reached $40 million, according to Agustin Haya de la Torre, the president of the International Peruvian Cooperation Agency.

Haya de la Torre explained that this sum comes from $5 million in cash and humanitarian aid since the tragedy occurred, as well as another $5 million agreed upon with a group of international donors and $30 million offered by the United Nations.

President Alan Garcia acknowledged that aid had been slow to arrive so far, but predicted that "a situation approaching normality" would be restored within 10 days. But that could seem like an eternity for those here without food and shelter.

"Nobody is going to die of hunger or thirst," Garcia said. "I understand your desperation, your anxiety, and some are taking advantage of the circumstances to take the property of others, take things from stores, thinking they're not going to receive help."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Victor R. Caivano, Associated Press

Residents in Pisco, Peru, bury friends and relatives Friday who died during the 8.0 earthquake that shook southern Peru Wednesday.

previousnext

Latest comments

A few hours ago, I was not a soccer fan. Now, I love it!!!!!! I think in...

Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25

We don't talk smack till you guys come talkin all this rubbish in a MWC news...

Real Champions

This was such a huge moment for Utah sports. I wonder how many people are...

Yeah, I got the jest, my question was why does he think that. Conservatives...

RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks

I got to watch the game from all the way out here in Iraq. I can't even...

i thought we were goners when javi went down and will was obviously...

I couldn't agree more with strange. My buddies and I couldn't believe how...

Beckham comes up empty

pick up 7 fouls and hurt Javi's ankle, so he has that going for him.

This had to be one of the most stunning wins I have ever seen. I was there...

@Bob in Boise If you believe nothing was before God, and God created...

Advertisements