THE EARTH QUAKES!

One of the worst disasters in Peru’s history struck at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 1970. A gigantic earthquake then literally shook down villages and towns in the Andes and coastal areas. Many of Jehovah’s people were affected, and Kingdom Halls were damaged or completely destroyed at Chimbote, Casma, Huaraz, Trujillo and other places.

News of the earthquake flashed around the world. Almost as quickly, Jehovah’s people went into action. It was heartwarming indeed to see their response. Christians in Peru and other lands quickly came to the aid of their stricken brothers. From the Watch Tower Society’s headquarters in Brooklyn came $25,000 for relief and reconstruction, as well as 15 tons of clothing. Peruvian brothers themselves contributed $3,091, and $2,084 came from others all over the world. Seven tons of clothing were gathered from the congregations in Lima. Later, over a period of time, funds were provided to rebuild three Kingdom Halls in Chimbote, one in Huaraz and the halls in Máncora and Sullana that were damaged by subsequent earthquakes.

Although the major earthquake struck on Sunday afternoon, roads were not open until late Tuesday evening, and there was much speculation over the radio as to whether private cars would be permitted to use them. Undaunted, the brothers loaded supplies into four cars or panel trucks and one 10-ton truck and headed for the disaster area at 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

The first town reached was Casma, which then had a congregation of 20 publishers. Most of Casma’s structures were adobe buildings that had been shaken down into a pile of suffocating dust and rubble. Even the town’s hospital, although built with reinforced steel, had collapsed. Unfortunately, one brother, confined to a wheelchair, was unable to escape, and he died in the disaster. Supplies intended for distribution among the brothers were left with a special pioneer.

Then it was on to Chimbote, with an estimated population of about 200,000. Some 300 Witnesses were associated with the three congregations in that city. All the homes had been destroyed and the Kingdom Halls had been ruined. Nevertheless, the brothers had cleared the rubble from the cement floor of one hall, had put up straw mat walls and held their weekly congregation book study there on Tuesday night. The first of the relief supplies of food, drinking water, blankets, clothes and so forth arrived the next morning.

But how were the Witnesses faring in Huaraz and Caraz, high in the Andes mountains? According to radio reports, these towns had practically been wiped out, either by the quake or by a mammoth mud slide caused when a portion of Huascaran mountain fell into a nearby lake. Although planes and helicopters had been dropping supplies into the stricken areas, eight days passed before it was announced by radio that the road was passable. Immediately, two vehicles were packed with supplies, and some brothers headed for Huaraz, where there was a congregation of 20 publishers and two special pioneers.

There were delays and dangers on the road. Finally, however, early on Wednesday morning the brothers reached Huaraz at an elevation of about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). Little camps had cropped up all around the city and it was quite a job locating the brothers and sisters. However, finally at 5 p.m. they were found in huts made from branches of eucalyptus trees. What a delight it was to see them! And how glad they were to get the supplies, which included food, medicine and kerosine stoves that would help them to keep warm during the extremely cold nights!

Only two persons associated with the Huaraz Congregation had been injured; no Witnesses there had died in the disaster. By helicopter an injured sister had been taken to Lima for medical attention. And a young brother, who had been buried under adobe debris but had been dug out with no more than a broken jaw, accompanied the brothers to Lima on their return trip.

Caraz was in the path of the mud slide that had followed the course of the river, but the slide had swerved just before reaching the town. Although most of the adobe houses had been damaged by the quake, generally the people had been able to salvage their personal possessions. Our brothers were all right but sorely in need of food and medicine. We left them tents, food, blankets and lanterns.