On Friday, December 27, a violent tsunami struck the coast of Peru, causing devastation and crippling coastal communities. The Peruvian Navy confirmed the closure of 91 ports, while waves up to 13 feet high destroyed beaches, fishing boats, and urban areas along the coastline. Among the most affected areas are Callao, Zorritos, Máncora, and Cabo Blanco, where the surging tides flooded piers and streets, forcing many residents to seek shelter on higher ground.
In Piura and Tumbes, over a hundred fishermen were stranded at sea, unable to return due to prohibitive conditions. After two days adrift, the Navy managed to rescue 30 fishermen trapped off the northern border of the country. However, many boats are still stranded, and there is no organized recovery plan from the port authorities.
According to Navy Captain Enrique Varea, the waves battering Peru originated thousands of kilometers away, near the U.S. coastline. The swirling currents continue to rage due to a persistent wind blowing across the ocean surface.
Images broadcast by local media show public squares and piers submerged, with sunken boats and citizens forced to abandon their homes. In neighboring Ecuador, the National Risk Management Secretariat confirmed disruptions and the death of one person in the coastal city of Manta, whose body was found by firefighters.
The municipality of Callao, near Lima, has decided to close several beaches and ban navigation for tourist boats and fishermen. Authorities from the Directorate of Hydrology and Navigation of the Navy have warned that the phenomenon could persist until January 2025.
Although the situation remains critical, law enforcement continues to monitor the event’s evolution and urges the public to follow safety recommendations. However, a return to normalcy seems still far off.
