Peru

Earthquake of 4.7-magnitude struck Peru's Atiquipa, says USGS

The earthquake occurred at 00:31:01 (UTC+05:30) and hit Atiquipa, Peru on Tuesday, at a depth of 20.6 km, the USGS informed

Strong earthquake of 6.8 magnitude kills at least 13 in Ecuador, 1 in Peru

A strong earthquake shook southern Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday, killing at least 14 people, trapping others under rubble, and sending rescue teams out into streets littered with debris and fallen power lines. The U.S. Geological Survey reported an earthquake with a magnitude of about 6.8 that was centred just off the Pacific Coast, about 50 miles (80 kilometres) south of Guayaquil, Ecuador's second-largest city. One of the victims died in Peru, while 13 others died in Ecuador, where authorities also reported that at least 126 people were injured. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso told reporters the earthquake had "without a doubt ... generated alarm in the population." Lasso's office in a statement said 11 of the victims died in the coastal state of El Oro and two in the highlands state of Azuay. In Peru, the earthquake was felt from its northern border with Ecuador to the central Pacific coast. Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otrola said a 4-year-old girl died from hea

Steady rains set off mudslides, killing at least 36 in southern Peru

Landslides triggered by steady rains swept mud, water and rocks into several villages in southern Peru, killing at least 36 people, authorities said on Monday. Wilson Gutierrez, a civil defense official in the Mariano Nicolas Valcarcel municipality in Camana province, told local radio RPP that 36 bodies had been recovered in a remote sector called Miski. Among the dead were five people who were riding in a van that was pushed into a river by a surge of mud. Local officials appealed for heavy machinery to be sent in to clear debris blocking three kilometers (nearly two miles) of an important road. Civil defence officials said an estimated 630 homes were unusable after the landslides, which also hit bridges, irrigation canals and roads. Constant rains are frequent in February in Peru and often cause deadly landslides.

Protests against Boluarte's govt spread in Peru, clashes in Cusco

Protests against Peruvian President Dina Boluarte's government that have left 47 people dead since they began a month ago spread through the south of the Andean country on Wednesday with new clashes reported in the tourist city of Cusco. Health officials in Cusco said 16 civilians and six police officers were injured after protesters tried to take over the city's airport, where many foreign tourists arrive to see sites including the nearby Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. Protests and road blockades against Boluarte and in support of ousted President Pedro Castillo were also seen in 41 provinces, mainly in Peru's south. The unrest began in early December following the destitution and arrest of Castillo, Peru's first president of humble, rural roots, following his widely condemned attempt to dissolve Congress and head off his own impeachment. The protest, mainly in neglected rural areas of the country still loyal to Castillo, are seeking immediate elections, Boluarte's resignation, ..

UN chief shocked by deaths in Peru protests, calls for investigation

The Secretary-General underscores that demonstrations must be carried out in a peaceful manner, respecting life and public and private property, Dujarric told a daily press briefing

13 dead in Peru as anti-government protests seeking elections resume

At least 13 people died Monday in southeast Peru as protests seeking immediate elections resumed in neglected rural areas of the country still loyal to ousted President Pedro Castillo. Peru's top human rights agency called for an investigation into the deaths, 12 of which took place amid clashes between security forces and protesters attempting to seize control of an airport in the city of Juliaca, near the border with Bolivia. It was the highest death toll since the unrest began in early December following Castillo's removal and arrest following a widely condemned attempt to dissolve Congress and head off his own impeachment. Among the 12 killed in Juliaca was a 17-year old, according to news reports. A 13th person died in the nearby city of Chucuito, where protesters blocked a highway. Castillo's successor, his former running mate Dina Boluarte, has supported a plan to push up to 2024 elections for president and congress originally scheduled for 2026. She's also expressed support

Mexico grants asylum to family of Peru's ousted President Castillo

Ebrard added that after granting asylum, Mexico will negotiate with Peruvian authorities the family's safe conduct so that they can leave Peru for Mexico if they wish to do so

Peru judge orders 18-month detention for ousted president Castillo

A Peruvian judge on Thursday ordered ousted President Pedro Castillo to remain in custody for 18 months, approving a request from authorities for time to build their rebellion case against him. The judge's decision came a day after the government declared a state of emergency as it struggles to calm violent protests. The protests erupted after Castillo was voted out of power by lawmakers last week, following his attempt to dissolve Congress ahead of an impeachment vote. Judge Cesar San Martin Castro ruled days after Congress stripped Castillo of the privilege that keeps Peru's presidents from facing criminal charges. Castillo and his legal team refused to participate in Thursday's virtual hearing, arguing it lacked minimum guarantees. He was represented by a public defender.

Peruvians protest, await ruling on ex-president Castillo's detention

Violent protests disrupting tourism and trade across Peru persisted Thursday as a judge considered whether to keep the country's ex-president in custody while authorities build their case against him for inciting a rebellion. The decision on whether to detain former President Pedro Castillo for up to 18 months comes after the government on Wednesday declared a police state in an effort to calm the protests, which have led to at least eight deaths. Castillo's supporters began protesting last week after he was removed from power and taken into custody following his attempt to dissolve Congress ahead of an impeachment vote. The latest political crisis has only deepened the instability gripping the country, with six presidents coming and going in as many years. Peru's Supreme Prosecutor Alcides Chinchay said in court Thursday that Castillo faces at least 10 years in prison for the rebellion charge. Protesters are demanding Castillo's freedom, the resignation of President Dina Boluarte

Peru's new govt declares 30-day national emergency amid violent protests

Peru's new government declared 30-day national emergency on Wednesday amid violent protests following the ouster of President Pedro Castillo, suspending the rights of people to gather and move freely across the Andean nation. "The National Police with the support of the Armed Forces will ensure the control throughout the national territory of personal property and, above all, strategic infrastructure and the safety and well-being of all Peruvians, Defense Minister Luis Otarola Pearanda announced. Otarola said the declaration means the suspension of the rights of assembly... freedom of movement. He said the government has not determined whether a curfew will be imposed. Peru's new president, Dina Boluarte, pleaded for calm as demonstrations continue against her and the Congress that ousted her predecessor. Answering demands for immediate elections, she suggested they could be held a year from now, four months before her earlier proposal, which placated no one. Peru cannot overflow w

2 dead in Peru protests as demonstrators demand president's resignation

Thousands of demonstrators took to streets around Peru for another day on Sunday to demand new President Dina Boluarte resign and schedule elections to replace her and Congress, and at least two deaths were reported amid the protests. Many of those demonstrating in the ongoing political crisis are demanding the release from custody of Pedro Castillo, the center-left president ousted on Wednesday by lawmakers after he sought to dissolve Congress ahead of an impeachment vote. Hundreds of people also protested in Lima, the capital, where riot police used tear gas to push protesters back. The protests rocking Peru heated up particularly in rural areas, strongholds for Castillo, a former schoolteacher and political newcomer from a poor Andean mountain district. Protesters set fire to a police station, vandalized a small airport used by the armed forces, and marched in the streets. A 15-year-old boy died of an injury suffered during a protest in the remote Andes community of Andahuaylas,

Peru's ex-president Pedro Castillo faced bigotry for impoverished past

When Pedro Castillo won Peru's presidency last year, it was celebrated as a victory by the country's poor the peasants and Indigenous people who live deep in the Andes and whose struggles had long been ignored. His supporters hoped Castillo, a populist outsider of humble roots, would redress their plight or at least end their invisibility. But during 17 months in office before being ousted and detained on Wednesday, supporters instead saw Castillo face the racism and discrimination they often experience. He was mocked for wearing a traditional hat and poncho, ridiculed for his accent and criticised for incorporating Indigenous ceremonies into official events. Protests against Castillo's government featured a donkey a symbol of ignorance in Latin America with a hat similar to his. The attacks were endless, so much so that observers from the Organisation of American States documented it during a recent mission to the deeply unequal and divided country. Castillo, however, squand

Peru swears in Dina Boluarte as new president amid constitutional crisis

Peru's Congress removed President Pedro Castillo from office Wednesday and replaced him with the vice president, shortly after Castillo decreed the dissolution of the legislature ahead of a scheduled vote to oust him. The national ombudsman's office, Constitutional Tribunal and Supreme Court called Castillo's move to dissolve the Congress a coup, although at least one expert disagreed. Peru's Congress has the ability to remove the president and the president has the ability to dissolve the Congress, so "technically, it is not a coup, said Eduardo Gamarra, a political science and international relations professor at Florida International University. The confusion is in the 15,000 interpretations that exist about who prevails, the Congress or the president, he said. The one who wins will be the one with more power, he said. Lawmakers voted 101-6 with 10 abstentions to remove Castillo from office for reasons of permanent moral incapacity. Castillo left the presidential palace in an .

German police seize 2.3 tonnes of cocaine with help of Peruvian authorities

German police seized 2.3 ton of cocaine from Peru and arrested the alleged organiser of the major drug trafficking, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) said

Peru faces 'community transmission' of monkeypox: Top health official

Peru is experiencing "community transmission" of the monkeypox virus, with 203 cases detected so far, Head of the National Health Institute, Victor Suarez said.

Immersed in political crisis, Peru neglects Amazon's destruction

Peru has descended into one of the worst political crises in its history and protection of its Amazon rainforest is failing, according to a report

Peruvian court approves prison release for ex-President Alberto Fujimori

Peru's Constitutional Court on Thursday approved the release from prison of former President Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25-year sentence for murder and corruption charges

Peru bans Repsol executives from leaving country after oil spill

Peru banned Repsol's Peru director and three other executives from leaving the country for 18 months while the government investigates an oil spill at a refinery run by the Spain-based company

Unusual high waves from volcano eruption in Tonga cause oil spill in Peru

Unusually high waves attributed to the eruption of an undersea volcano in Tonga caused an oil spill on the Peruvian coast, but authorities said Monday the spill was controlled within hours

Colombia and Peru teams play for honour, third place at Copa America

Few teams want to play a third-place match in any tournament, even less so during the Covid-19 pandemic, but that's not the case for Colombia and Peru at the Copa America