Earthquake 2001 - Arequipa

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The 8.4 earthquake struck Southern Peru at 3.33 p.m. on Saturday June 23rd, 2001. Some of the most spectacular damage was seen in the main square where one tower of the historic cathedral fell inside the building. The remaining tower was perched precariously and looking as if a beaver had eaten round the base! Thankfully, no-one was killed when the tower fell through the roof.
       
It is amazing that this second tower did not also fall. Much of the city centre's historic buildings are made from The ancient Even the arches in the beautiful main square suffered.
       
Damage was most sever among the older buildings. Many of these have now been patched up. Some of the repairs are simply cosmetic. The next earthquake will show which! For weeks, everywhere you went there were piles of rubble. Many city centre shops are housed in very old vaulted buildings.
       
The earthquake quickly revealed which buildings were well built. As earthquakes go, this was a long one, nearly two minutes. This was a bakery! Now it is just a ruin!
       
The villages around Arequipa suffered greatly due to the materials used for construction. Mud brick buildings were severely damaged. Mud and stone walls collapsed. Even our kitchen had a large crack right through one wall.
       
       
       
       
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