Ports and beaches were temporarily shut and islanders and coastal residents ordered to higher ground up and down Latin America’s Pacific seaboard ahead of the tsunami surge triggered by the killer Japanese quake. But it did little damage.

Increased activity by the Ubinas volcano in southern Peru prompted the evacuation of 408 villagers, officials said Saturday.

The death toll from the earthquake that rocked southern Peru on June 23 has been lowered from 115 people to 77.

Peru was today rushing aid to its southern cities and towns after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake toppled homes and killed at least 71 people, leaving thousands too terrified to return home amid recurring aftershocks.

At least 47 people were killed as a powerful earthquake shook southern Peru, sending dozens of homes, churches and buildings tumbling to the ground.