Since 1970, Peru has been hit by five powerful and deadly earthquakes. The latest struck Peru’s coast exactly two years ago with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale.
It fiercely shook the capital Lima, but its devastating epicentre was about 200km (124 miles) to the south, near the town of Pisco, a small fishing port built largely of adobe – mud bricks which Peruvians have used for thousands of years.
More than 500 people were killed and about 75,000 homes were left uninhabitable.
For Peruvian engineer Marcial Blondet, it was the devastating quake in 1970 that first motivated him to develop earthquake-resistant buildings, particularly for those who could least afford them.
Some 70,000 people died in the mountainous region of Huaraz, many of them in an avalanche of snow, ice and rock which obliterated the town of Yungay. It was the deadliest earthquake in Latin American history.
See the full article and video on the BBC
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Thousands of Peruvians have demonstrated against their government’s economic policies as part of a nationwide three-day strike.
The protests follow clashes in the north of the country which left at least 33 people dead.
Forensic investigators in Peru say they have recovered the remains of at least 70 people from a mass grave.
They are all victims of a 1984 massacre in Putis, Ayacucho and the excavation is believed to be the largest-ever in Peru.
Riot police in the Peruvian capital, Lima, have used tear gas to disperse protestors marching in support of indigenous groups.
The demonstrators were calling on Congress to revoke two laws which they claim threatens their lands.
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Indigenous protesters are reported to be missing in northern Peru following some of the worst violence seen in the country for 10 years.
At least 30 indigenous protesters and 24 police officers are reported to have been killed in two days of clashes. Dan Collyns reports.
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The former Peruvian president has taken the stand at the end of his trial for human rights violations.
Alberto Fujimori, who governed Peru from 1990 to 2000, is charged with responsibility for two death-squad massacres, where 25 people were killed.
He says he is innocent.
See the video report on the BBC.
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