Collapse in Pataz: Ministry of Defense reports disappearance of 15 to 20 citizens

On Tuesday, March 15, the whole country was surprised by the images coming from the province of Tapaz in the La Libertad region. The landslide of a hill over several homes that had been built on its slope, moved everyone and started the rescue work. The Ministry of Defence, through its head José Luis Gavidia, reported that there are between 15 to 20 people whose whereabouts are unknown so far.

A resident of the affected area is being treated in a medical center after having several injuries caused by the collapse. Another eight people are unharmed, according to information provided by the Defence portfolio. On the number of dwellings buried, it is estimated that there are about fifteen.

“We are intensifying rescue efforts and eight people have already been rescued unharmed and we have one injured person who is being treated at the medical center and will probably be evacuated tomorrow,” said Minister Gavidia from the La Libertad region.

Gavidia said that a 40-member rescue brigade was deployed, including firefighters, miners and police officers. During the night, this team has dedicated itself to locating those missing citizens among the land that covered several houses. In order to save the rest of the population, 90 per cent of the people living in the areas near the hill have been evacuated. This is due to the danger that slippage will occur elsewhere.

The Minister of Defense confirmed that the houses have been built in a ravine and that this represented “a time bomb”. He explained that a large percentage of residents are migrants, due to the large mining activity.

Through his Twitter account, President Castillo confirmed his presence in the disaster area. “After having fulfilled the message to the Peruvian people from Congress, I am going to the province of Pataz to verify in situ the area affected by the accident that occurred this morning. #GobiernoDelPueblo will be present at the time when citizens most require it,” he wrote.

DRAMA RESCUE

Not only have the authorities taken care of the rescue work, they have also been joined by citizens. A video spread on social media shows a group of people using a rope to break a wall and thus free those who were left behind this product of the landslide. In another video shared on social networks you can also see how a group aboard several transport units were saved from being dragged to death by the earth.

Despite the passing of the hours, the magnitude of this disaster is still clearly known. No deaths have been reported, but there are several people under the rubble for whom rescuers are tirelessly searching.

Among the groups that have come to the disaster area is a health brigade from the Peru hospital made up of 20 people, including doctors, nurses, medical technologists and nursing technicians, who will provide free health care to the insured and uninsured population affected by the landslide.

The government of Chile published a publication in which it regrets what happened in the north of our country. “From the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs we deeply regret the tragedy that occurred due to the landslide that buried dozens of homes in the province of Pataz, La Libertad. Our solidarity is with the Peruvian people,” he says in his Twitter message.

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