A severe landslide swept through a rural district, killing one person and leaving two others missing after a second slide struck the area this week. In a separate incident on Thursday, another landslide in a nearby town resulted in a fatality and three people reported missing, underscoring the ongoing risk from heavy rains in Peru’s highlands and coastal regions.
The National Center for Emergency Operations (COEN) reported on social media that the latest landslide affected the town of La Perla in the Atavillos Bajo district of Huaral province, Lima region. According to COEN, the event left one person dead and two others missing so far. Civil Defense authorities (Indeci) are coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid and food donated by private sector partners to the affected communities, with relief measures focused on families who will be staying overnight in designated communal areas in the sector.
Civil leaders in Atavillos Bajo provided details to local media, noting that during the second landslide a group of people had gathered on a mound that had formed in the wake of the initial flood. These witnesses described the instability of the ground as rain persisted, increasing the danger to residents and rescuers alike. Local officials urged residents to seek safer ground and to cooperate with emergency crews as they assess damaged zones and conduct searches.
Rosa Vásquez, governor of the Lima region, confirmed that the reported death was a 50-year-old man who nonetheless died during transfer to a health facility after his condition worsened. The two missing individuals were identified as a 55-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man. The governor called on the central government to dispatch heavy machinery to clear mud and large stones from the affected routes and to facilitate access for aid convoys and medical teams.
Mario Mendoza, who heads the Decentralized Civil Defense Directorate for Lima Provinces, explained that authorities plan to evacuate between 30 and 40 families living near a mountain pass to avert another disaster. He described the population in the area as vulnerable due to the terrain and ongoing rainfall, stressing the need to relocate households to a safer site until assessments are complete and conditions improve. The emphasis was on preventing additional casualties and ensuring that residents have safe shelter during the response phase.
Earlier reports from the region indicated that the first landslide caused the collapse of several homes and damaged a local school, amplifying the impact of the weather system already affecting large portions of northern and central Peru. As authorities continue to monitor rainfall and ground stability, the total number of lives lost linked to heavy rains across Peru this year has risen, with civil defense updates detailing fatalities and displaced residents across multiple districts. In the broader regional context, the Civil Defense office noted that numerous counties remain at high or very high risk for landslides, avalanches, and floods, emphasizing vigilance and preparedness as prime responses to ongoing meteorological threats. Citations: COEN for event updates and Indeci for aid coordination; regional authorities for evacuation decisions and casualty figures.