Peru earthquake: Huge 8.0 magnitude earthquake hits central Peru

[Richard D]

Source: Express UK

The temor hit at 8.41am UK time in the Pacaua Samiria National Reserve Park. The quake struck around 180 km east of the town on of Moyobamba, the capital of the San Martín region in northern Peru, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It is also understood to have reached a depth of around 105 km.

The quake has caused severe damage across Peru, which has seen the collapse of a road and buildings caving in.

Pictures show debris falling from highrise buliding as the tremours cause structures to shake.

The earthquake was originally registered as a 7.5 magnitude tremor, but has since been upgraded to a 8.0 quake on the Richter Scale.

Read more: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1132208/earthquake-peru-today-latest-update-USGS-magnitude-8-tsunami-warning-centre-lacunas

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It's affected Peru, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia. This was a monster quake.

[Lochloosa]

1. That is going to leave a mark.

[Richard D]

2. Fortunately most of that area is jungle

People live in simple huts. Waiting to hear reports from the bigger cities where concrete block structures are common.

[milestogo]

3. People in the jungle matter too.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. The post you replied to does not imply in the slightest that they don't matter

It was simply pointing out that due to the nature of the structures in different areas there is less likely to be unrepairable structure damage in the jungle than in urban areas. Almost all structures built by the people in the jungle who matter will be repairable if damaged.

When there is unrepairable structure damage there are likely to be severe injuries and maybe deaths.

[Maxheader]

5. Falling trees on fragil huts vs concret....

Just saying...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Of course there are many ways to die or be injured. "Just saying..." :eyes: . . . nt

[Richard D]

6. Of course, not what I meant.

Population density in the jungle is very small.
Structures are single story open wood huts. Wood moves with the earth, so structural damage is unlikely.
I doubt trees will fall from a quake like that, and if they did, most villages are cleared from trees. I'd be more worried about a stron wind.
Towns in Peru usually have 2 or three story concrete block construction and a greater population density. So more likely to be a problem there.

Fortunately, so far, it looks like damage in the area is minimal. Still waiting to hear from friends who live in that area, but no fatalities or injuries reported yet.

[Richard D]

7. Just checked.

Current reports are 5 injuries, no fatalities.
Pretty astounding for an 8.0

[milestogo]

8. It will be very difficult for aid to reach people in such areas.

So people who survive the quake may not survive the aftermath.

[Richard D]

10. Jungle people are resourceful

And mostly self0suficient. They will be fine.

[meadowlander]

16. Obviously,

but if you have to have an 8.0 quake better the epicentre be where hundreds of people live in low level buildings and not tens of millions in skyscrapers.

We're hopefully not going to see scenes like we did with the 8.0 2008 Sichuan quake which killed 70,000 people and injured 350,000+ and where whole school buildings pancaked killing all the kids inside.

I've been in a 7.1 quake where the epicentre was shallow and under a major urban area and that shit is *bad* news.

[Power 2 the People]

9. Pray for Peru.

[applegrove]

12. Vibes to the people of Peru.

[IcyPeas]

13. well, luckily the depth of the quake was 68 miles

this matters. Quakes closer to the surface cause more damage. e.g. the 1994 Northridge earthquake was about 6 miles in depth and caused massive surface damage.

So far there is 1 fatality.

https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-ap-explains-difference-between-shallow-deep-earthquakes-2016-8

[locks]

14. The only 8 point or above earthquakes

in U.S. history have been in Alaska.

[Brother Buzz]

15. Depends how you crunch the numbers....

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake happened before the Richter magnitude scale was devised, but for decades, the eggheads believed it was an 8.6 quake.