An earthquake measuring

7.9

on the

Richter Scale

has hit Peru’s coast including the Peruvian capital Lima at 18:40 local time (23:40 GMT/UTC) on Wednesday, August 15, 2007. People were forced to rush out of buildings and homes as they shook violently throwing things into disarray. At least 336 people were reported killed in the coastal province of Ica, 265 km south of Lima. In the Peruvian capital 1 person was killed and power and communication lines were disrupted. Also a tsunami warning was issued for Peru, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador, which was however later withdrawn. Four strong aftershocks ranging from 5.4 to 5.9 have also been reported.