Series of destructive landslides in Peru claim at least 40 lives, destroy 200 homes

At least 40 people have lost their lives and 200 houses have been swept away by a series of landslides caused by heavy rains in the Peruvian department of Arequipa. The landslides began on Sunday, February 5, 2023, and affected the town of Secocha and other localities in the province of Camaná.

The hardest hit area was Nicolas Valcarcel, where four villages have been devastated by the disaster. The governor of Arequipa, Rohel Sanchez, stated that the situation in these towns is “really bad.” It is believed that miners who were working in the nearby hills were among those swept away by the landslide.

Some 20 000 people throughout Arequipa have suffered damage to their homes or otherwise been affected by the natural disaster.

The Civil Defense Institute of Arequipa is working to provide aid and support to those affected by the landslides.

The number of casualties could increase, as search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

The central-western Lima department in Peru has also been hit by landslides resulting in 265 displaced people and significant damage. Nearly 200 houses have been affected, with 4 houses, 1 religious center, a community building, 5 km (3.1 miles) of roads, agriculture, and livestock all suffering damage.

References:

1 40 People Killed in Landslide in Southern Peru – teleSUR – February 6, 2023

Featured image credit: Miguel Valencia (stillshot)