The epicenter of the earthquake was listed in the Arequipa region

Sep 26, 2013 12:54 GMT  ·  By

A magnitude 7 earthquake hit Peru on Wednesday, killing at least three residents in the Arequipa region.

The shake started at around 11:43 a.m. local time and its epicenter was registered in Arequipa. Reports of 15 people being injured have emerged so far, Peru This Week informs.

Two victims were in critical conditions and they were transported to clinics in Nasca and Camana.

Moderate to severe damage was observed at a depth of about 25 miles (40 km). However, the shake was felt on the entire southern coast. In the southern part of Peru, authorities have noted that the Ubinas volcano has been spewing ash.

Three casualties have been registered in the Chaparra mine, located in the district of Caraveli, Arequipa.

Three men were working inside the mine and they were trapped in the shaft as the walls collapsed on them. Two others were wounded, but made it out alive.

“The earthquake felt much more intense than the ‘96 Nazca quake. It was hard to walk during the long duration of the earthquake,” describes witness Carmen Bedoya, living in the Acari district, which is close to the epicenter.

“The glass windows in many of the houses have broken, and schools have suffered material damages. Students have been evacuated to their homes, but there are still no reports of people being wounded,” Bedoya adds.

The power went out and a lockdown on some streets came into effect.

“People are calmer now and ready for any aftershock that may occur,” Bedoya notes.

In the town of Atiquipa, a majority of the buildings incurred damages, prompting hospital and school closings.

“For my village, this has been a true earthquake. 70% of homes are uninhabitable now. Schools, clinics, the church, and the headquarters of the municipality,” says Atiquipa mayor, Francisco Palomino.