A POWERFUL earthquake has devastated several Peruvian cities, killing at least 337 people and forcing the government to declare a state of emergency Thursday.

The quake was the deadliest to hit the country in nearly 40 years.

As many as 1,000 people were injured and tens of thousands of panicked residents flocked onto the streets fearing more tremors, after the 7.9-magnitude quake rattled the country for two terrifying minutes late Wednesday.

The towns of Pisco, Chincha, and other areas in Peru’s southern coastal region were reported to be in ruins after the biggest earthquake to hit the South American nation in decades.

Buildings left standing had their windows smashed and trees were toppled.

In the coastal city of Ica, 300 kilometers south of Lima, the Senor de Luren church collapsed during a service, killing at least four worshippers and injuring dozens.

The nearby city of Pisco was also hit hard with many people killed in their homes as roofs caved in.

Officials had hoped that the death toll would be contained, but the rising number of dead and injured overnight made it clear that the quake was a major disaster.

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People prepare to spend the night outside their homes in Lima’s port of Callao, after an earthquake struck Peru on Thursday. A powerful earthquake rattled Peru on Wednesday, killing at least 337 people and injuring more than 1,000 as homes collapsed.

SD-Agencies