Major Earthquake Strikes Peru

A powerful earhtquake rattled Peru on Wednesday, August 15. The shaking that lasted an agonizing two minutes, hit several southern Peruvian coastal cities as panic spread among the inhabitants who ran terrified from falling houses and buildings.
The strong earthquake tremor started at 18:40 and knocked glasses off many buildings in Lima downtown. However, the most affected zones are located in southern Lima; cities as Pisco, Chincha, Ica, Cañete, among others were devastated by this magnitude 7,9 earthquake that killed more than five hundred people, injured hundreds more and left thousands homeless.
Authorites have headed to the earthquake-ravaged cities to coordinate relief efforts to those affected by the collapse of buildings and health care facilities;  the lack of electricity, water and food supplies; roads split open, etc.