Aug 16, 2007

The day after...

I was at work when we felt the tremor. It wasn't particularly strong in Lima, but it lasted a while. We felt it at around 7:15 pm, and it shook the institute for a good ten minutes. I thought it was me, maybe getting an inner ear infection and losing balance, then students began to scream and cry in the courtyard. People ran for the main entrance to get out, and people from the streets were trying to escape the swaying buses and cars by running inside. That was the most dangerous place, a bigger threat than what the tremor caused here in Lima. Panic all around. I was mostly just standing there enjoying the odd feeling of the ground moving under my feet, not really getting that this was actually a much bigger quake somewhere else. I haven't heard much of the news yet - just what was on the radio in the bus on my way home last evening. What I have heard is that the epicenter was in Pisco or Ica, and reached a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale. Four hundred-odd people dead or missing, around 350 confirmed dead. Edited at 10:40 pm - 510 confirmed dead. Wounded being airlifted to Lima hospitals. Military medical teams and civil engineers have been mobilized to extract and treat people as they are found in the rubble of their homes.

Here in Lima, there are some cracks in the walls of some buildings and things fell off the shelves on the higher floors, but no one was killed and no homes or buildings came down. A man came to inspect the apartment building and found a few minor cracks, which were repaired, but nothing else. Celeste weathered the tremor in her crate and in her magic camo jammies, safe, secure and happy. She bounced out of the crate and went out to play with us. Celeste's buddy, Galo the beagle, came outside upset and was still trembling an hour later. The cocker, upstairs, stays in the bathroom when his people go to work, and all the bathroom shelves emptied themselves on the floor, where he was. Happily, he made himself a bed of the towels that landed on the floor.

Thanks to all for leaving your comments of concern and good wishes. We appreciate them so much! We are all safe here. O.'s cousin, Fanny, lives in Pisco and she and her family are safe, although the rear portion of their bed & breakfast inn collapsed last night. Luckily, the portion that they live in and the restaurant are intact.

19 comments:

wildtomato said...

Thank goodness you and your family are okay! I was wondering about you all day and hoping that the reason you weren't posting was just because you had no electricity.

K. said...

I think Celeste and the other pups in your building were on to something yesterday. So relieved you are safe!

Marilee Rockley said...

Glad to know that you were not too shook up by the earthquake.

toady said...

Relieved that you and yours are OK. The pictures on UK TV were pretty horrific. Strange that your previous blog said all the dogs were howling - they obviously sensed something. Toady

snailbeachshepherdess said...

Heartfelt relief that you are OK from way over here as well. Had the dog howling the night before got someting to do with it do you think?

Blossomcottage said...

I am delighted to hear that you are OK I am so sorry that Peru has suffered this horrible natural disaster and hope that all will be well soon.
Blossom

Faith said...

Very glad to read your blog and know all is well. It must be frightening.

annakarenin said...

Good to hear you are safe and your relatives too. Awful for all those people living in the area most affected. Homes and businesses can be rebuilt with time but to loose friends and family in such a way is so terribly sad.

Bluestocking Mum said...

Thought about you several times.

I am so glad you are ok. How awful.

Several years ago I was in Athens when an earthquake struck. It was very frightening.

Take care and best wishes
x

One Little Birdie said...

We are certainly happy that you are all safe and sound. Celeste is very regal & serene for a 7 month old puppy!

Exmoorjane said...

HI there.....found your blog via purplecoo... Indeed, thank goodness you're OK... Love the blog and can't get over Celeste...what a face! That dog has truly been human or is about to become human in her next incarnation! How very spooky that all the dogs sang before the earthquake.
Your knitting is fabulous too - so talented.
Anyhow, very best wishes...
Janex

Pondside said...

It's a relief to know that you and yours are well. We were worried! From the news we can see that things are pretty bad elsewhere.

Rani said...

So glad you're safe. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected. How very sad!

Kary said...

Be safe! Gentle hugs to all .....

Unknown said...

I'm so relieved that you're ok. I was quite worried when I heard the news. Such a relief that O's cousin is not too badly affected either. Sounds very frightening. I don't even like thunderstorms ... so I'd be hopeless in circumstances like these! My heart goes out to everyone affected.

Suffolkmum said...

Just adding my relief that you're all OK, and my sadness to hear of so much death and destruction. Very strange about the dogs yesterday.

bodran... said...

It's all been said..xxoo to you all

Westerwitch/Headmistress said...

Wow Kathleen - it is so weird to read about a first hand account of an earthquake from someone we 'know'. Thank you so much for letting us know you are alright.

It is an awful time for parts of Peru now and many people have lost their lives . . . hard to get your head around living here in Scotland - although we had a very short minor quake back in January 2005 - only a few days after our awful fire . . .

Hugs to you and yours.

ww

Dearest Cupcake said...

Glad to hear you're okay too!