Peru earthquake death toll rises to 450

The death toll in the earthquake that struck Peru’s southern desert has risen to 450 with about 1,500 injured, a senior UN official said today, quoting figures from the National Disaster Management Authority in Peru.

Assistant Secretary-General Margareta Wahlstrom, the deputy emergency relief co-ordinator, said “so far (there are) 450 deaths counted, and injured about 1,500.”