Aftershock rattles Peru, kills one child

Aug 20, 2007, 9:44 GMT

Lima - An aftershock measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale hit Peru's southern cities of Pisco, Chincha, Ica and Lima on Sunday, the latest in a series of strong aftershocks, the Geophysics Institute reported.

   The epicentre of the tremor, which hit at 3:11 pm (2011 GMT), was offshore, 53 kilometres west of Pisco. A 12-year-old boy was killed when the wall of his house collapsed in nearby Guadalupe, 300 kilometres south of Lima, local media reported.

   Peru has been rattled by more than 430 aftershocks since Wednesday's powerful 8.0 quake that killed more than 503 people, injured 1,500 others and left 90,000 homeless, according to the country's Geophysics Institute.

Most of the aftershocks were routine or barely perceptible, but at least a dozen had registered between 5 and 6 on the Richter scale, the institute said.

   Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe visited the devastated region on Sunday, bringing with him doctors and tons of food, water, medicines and clothing.

   'We regret the dimension of the disaster,'' Uribe told reporters in Pisco. 'After we process the pain, all this will be rebuilt better than before.'

      Meanwhile, El Comercio newspaper reported online that hundreds of survivors were fleeing Ica. Peruvian media have reported for days of lootings and other crimes.

   Rescue workers have given up hope of finding anymore survivors four days after the quake.

   The lack of electricity, water and sewage services is increasing the fear of epidemics, as is the large number of decaying bodies under the collapsed buildings.