On the evening of August 15, a powerful 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit the coast of Peru. According to the latest estimates from Peru’s fire service, over 500 people were killed and 1,600 injured. The most affected cities are Chincha, Pisco and Ica, located about 200 km south of the capital, Lima.

MSF is organising a team to assess the heavily hit areas south of Lima. A cargo plane will fly tomorrow morning (August 18) from Bogotá, Colombia, with five tons of medical and non-medical supplies, including tents to set up dispensaries, and water and sanitation equipment.

MSF is sending staff to Peru from other countries in the region. A two-person team will assess the needs in the affected areas. A logistician is already on his way to Ica and a medical doctor will join him on Saturday.

A psychologist and a water and sanitation engineer will soon arrive to reinforce the team on the ground. Additional MSF doctors and nurses may also be sent.

The earthquake was also felt strongly in Lima. Early yesterday morning (August 16), a Lima-based MSF team assessed the situation in the slum of Villa El Salvador. MSF has been running an HIV/AIDS project in this poor suburb, but the project is being handed over to the Ministry of Health, so very few MSF staff were present at the time of the earthquake. No deaths, injuries or major damage were reported in Vila El Salvador.