Deadly landslides in Peru

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“The number of people who have lost their lives so far stands at 15,” the national civil protection institute said in Arequipa, an area swept by mudslides and rocks on Sunday after torrential rains.

A series of landslides in the southern region of Arequipa, Peru, yesterday Monday killed at least 15 people, while two more are missing and 20 were injured, according to the initial assessment of the authorities, who stressed that the affected are in the thousands.

“The number of people who have lost their lives so far stands at 15,” the national civil protection institute said in Arequipa, an area swept by mudslides and rocks on Sunday after torrential rains.

The Ministry of Defense announced via Twitter that it had sent helicopters, tents, water tanks, sandbags and disaster response personnel to the area.

The tragedy unfolded amid the political crisis that has been paralyzing Peru for the past two months, centered on southern regions of the Andes, following the suspension of Congress, the arrest and pretrial detention of former president Pedro Castillo on December 7. In the mass mobilizations and riots that followed, dozens of people have been killed and thousands have been injured.

RES-EMP

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