A moderate earthquake shook southern Peru Monday morning, causing panic in Ica, Pisco and Chincha, but no reported casualties or damage.
According to Radio Radio Programas, or RPP, the magnitude 4.7 quake struck Sunday, at 11:24 local time.
On Aug. 15, 2007, an earthquake ravaged Peru’s southern coast. When it hit, the magnitude-8 earthquake lasted more than two minutes, leaving the region in ruins, cutting off electricity, water and communications. In Pisco, the quake destroyed three-quarters of the city center, killed approximately 500 people and left thousands more homeless. According to official figures, some 40,000 homes were destroyed.
The Andean country’s deadliest natural disaster occurred in 1970, when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake triggered a landslide which buried the highland town of Yungay and killed 66,000 people.
