Deadly landslide in southern Peru leaves at least 15 dead 

A deadly landslide in southern Peru has left at least 15 people dead, 20 injured, and five missing, authorities said on Monday.

“The number of people dead so far has risen to 15,” according to the directorate of the National Civil Defense Institute in the Arequipa region, adding that the number of deaths from the disaster could rise as rescue efforts continue. 

Torrential rains on Sunday caused several mud and rock slides in the town of Secocha, in the Arequipa province. As of Monday morning, the rains caused the nearby Ocoña river to flow at a rate of 585.6 cubic meters per second, causing authorities to issue flood warnings in nearby housing areas. 

At least twenty people have been treated for minor injuries, according to Peru’s Ministry of Health. The government agency added that it was planning on sending “two brigades made up of doctors, nurses and mental health professionals to the area” to treat the injured. 

The Peruvian army also deployed several helicopters to the region carrying humanitarian aid, sandbags, and water. 

The Health Ministry recommended members of the public to “obtain information from official sources” after several local media outlets reported that there had been at least 36 casualties from the landslide.