LIMA, October 1- For the second time in less than four days,a 3.6-magnitude tremor shook the already quake-affected area of Paruro in southern Peru early Tuesday, the Peru Geophysical Institute, or IGP, reported.
IGP said the tremor occurred at 06:39 local time (11:39 GMT) and its epicenter was located at 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) southeast of Misca village and 9 kilometers (5.59 miles) south of devastated Paruro province in Cusco.
It struck at a depth of 8 kilometers (4.9 miles) and the shaking intensity as described on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale reached II in Misca.
According to Civil Defense officials and local authorities, property damage is still being assessed after a previous 5.1-magnitude quake struck the same area late Saturday.
At least eight people were killed and five others critically injured. In addition, about 575 victims have been reported so far. Tents are being set up to temporarily house those affected by the destruction.
The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, called Peruvian President Ollanta Humala to express condolences on behalf of the American people for Peruvians affected by the earthquake that struck Cusco region last week.
The U.S Vice President reiterated that the United States stands ready to assist the Peruvian government’s efforts to address the disaster and underscored the importance of the U.S.-Peru partnership.
An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck the province of Paruro,in Peru’s southern region of Cusco late Saturday night.One road was blocked and about 90 percent of the houses in Misca, a remote Andean village in the Paruro province, collapsed, including an 18th Century church.
Measures are being taken and action is being coordinated with Cusco’s regional government to clear the area.The authorities have declared a state of emergency and President Ollanta Humala has said his government will help rebuild the village.
So far, Indeci has provided the population with food, blankets, and basic necessities.Peru lies in the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, which is the site of 85 percent of global seismic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates.
– BERNAMA
