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CNN Live Sunday

Peruvian President Surveys Quake Damage

Aired June 24, 2001 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Dozens are head and hundreds are injured and thousands more are camped outside in the cold in Peru, after a powerful earthquake shook parts of the country yesterday. The 7.9 magnitude quake was centered about 120 miles west of the city of Arequipa, on the Pacific coast. It collapsed homes and building, and has triggered at least 26 after shocks so far. Peru's president flew over the scene today to check on the destruction and the search and rescue efforts.

Joining us by phone with the latest on the situation now, from Lima, Peru is CNN's Harris Whitbeck -- Harris.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brian, rescuers continue searching for victims and possible survivors of Saturday's quake that , as you said, hit dozens of communities in southern Peru. The official death toll is now at 38. It was revised downward by the Peruvian Civil Defense Institute. But doctors and rescue workers that are in the area said they fear the final death toll might end up being much higher than previously thought.

The quake hit the cities of Motequa, Tacna, and Arequipa at around 3:30 Saturday afternoon. And roads in the region are cut off to due landslides. President Valentin Paniagua and President-elect Alejandro Toledo visited the region Sunday morning; both promised aid for the victims.

The most pressing need now is to provide temporary shelter for the thousands who have been left homeless. This is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and temperatures in the hit area, which is in the high altitude, can reach below freezing at night.

Meanwhile, scientists are still expressing some concern about a secondary effect of the earthquake. The tremor, whose epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean, set off large waves that could still cause major flooding in some coastal areas -- Brian.

NELSON: Harris, I understand, very quickly, there have been after shocks?

WHITBECK: There have been dozens of after shocks, and scientists both here and at the U.S. Geological Survey in the United States say that that is normal. They have been averaging an average of a magnitude of about 3. And there have been lots of them and more are expected. NELSON: One final question: is aid getting through to some of the more remote villages?

WHITBECK: No. The problem is that access to those remote villages is cut off due to the many landslides that occurred after the quake. However, international relief agencies and some governments have offered to send aid. They are just waiting to see exactly what is needed.

NELSON: Thank you. CNN's Harris Whitbeck reporting to us from Lima.

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