Monday, August 20, 2007
HEALTH authorities in Peru yesterday battled the spread of infectious diseases in the wake of a devastating earthquake as President Alan Garcia threatened a curfew to stop looting.
"I have ordered to use the harshest measures and if needed to impose a curfew," Garcia told reporters in Pisco, the town hit hardest by last Wednesday's quake, where he has been monitoring rescue efforts since last Friday.
Amid increasing reports of looting and assaults, Garcia on last Saturday ordered more troops to the quake-stricken area and promised that authorities would keep the peace "whatever the cost."
Garcia tried to play down reports of looting in Pisco and Chincha, saying they were nothing more than "rumours". But an RPP radio reporter in Chincha broke down in tears describing the prevailing lawlessness in the city, which he said had been devastated by the earthquake and left at the mercy of marauding gangs of armed thugs.
A government statement out of Lima, meanwhile, said 1,000 military had been sent to help 2,000 police officers patrol streets in Pisco, Chincha, Ica and Canete, with orders to "deal firmly" with looting.
Also in this coastal city 240km southeast of Lima, Health Minister Carlos Vallejos said some 1,500 doctors and nurses were struggling to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases among earthquake victims.
On the third day after the massive 8 magnitude earthquake, the official toll remained at 500 and more than 1,600 injured.
But the number of missing is still unknown, and lacking official figures, news media estimate the number of people affected by the quake at 200,000.
There was one ray of hope on Pisco last Saturday when a baby was born in a field hospital in the city's main square. Garcia took the baby in his arms calling it "a breath of life ... a miracle amid crumbling walls and the pain."
Around two-thirds of Pisco was destroyed.AFP
"I have ordered to use the harshest measures and if needed to impose a curfew," Garcia told reporters in Pisco, the town hit hardest by last Wednesday's quake, where he has been monitoring rescue efforts since last Friday.
Amid increasing reports of looting and assaults, Garcia on last Saturday ordered more troops to the quake-stricken area and promised that authorities would keep the peace "whatever the cost."
Garcia tried to play down reports of looting in Pisco and Chincha, saying they were nothing more than "rumours". But an RPP radio reporter in Chincha broke down in tears describing the prevailing lawlessness in the city, which he said had been devastated by the earthquake and left at the mercy of marauding gangs of armed thugs.
A government statement out of Lima, meanwhile, said 1,000 military had been sent to help 2,000 police officers patrol streets in Pisco, Chincha, Ica and Canete, with orders to "deal firmly" with looting.
Also in this coastal city 240km southeast of Lima, Health Minister Carlos Vallejos said some 1,500 doctors and nurses were struggling to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases among earthquake victims.
On the third day after the massive 8 magnitude earthquake, the official toll remained at 500 and more than 1,600 injured.
But the number of missing is still unknown, and lacking official figures, news media estimate the number of people affected by the quake at 200,000.
There was one ray of hope on Pisco last Saturday when a baby was born in a field hospital in the city's main square. Garcia took the baby in his arms calling it "a breath of life ... a miracle amid crumbling walls and the pain."
Around two-thirds of Pisco was destroyed.AFP