Powerful earthquake rattles Peru, killing 510

(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-17 14:44

People prepare to pass the night outside their homes in the Barranco district of Lima after an earthquake struck the country, August 15, 2007. A powerful earthquake rattled Peru on Wednesday, killing about 500 people and injuring hundreds others as homes collapsed. [Reuters]

Some of the deadliest earthquakes to hit South and Central America:

• Aug. 15, 2007: Pisco, Peru; magnitude 8.0; at least 450 killed, according to the U.N.

• June 23, 2001: Peru; magnitude 8.1; more than 100 killed; sent a tidal surge a half-mile inland.

• Jan. 25, 1999: western Colombia, magnitude 6.0; about 1,170 killed, devastated the city of Armenia.

• April 22, 1991: Costa Rica; magnitude 7.4; more than 80 killed in Costa Rica and Panama; 30,000 along the Costa Rica-Panama border cut off from food, water, medical supplies for days.

• Sept. 19, 1985: central Mexico; magnitude 8.1; more than 9,500 killed.

• Feb. 4, 1976: Guatemala; magnitude 7.5; 22,700 killed.

• Dec. 23, 1972: Nicaragua; magnitude 6.2; more than 6,000 killed.

• May 31, 1970: Chimbote, Peru; magnitude 7.9; more than 60,000 killed.

• May 22, 1960: Chile; magnitude 9.5; 5,700 killed.

• Jan. 24, 1939: Chillan, Chile; magnitude 8.3; 28,000 killed.

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