Earthquake in Peru: statue of Mary untouched as church roof caves in

Following an earthquake the night of July 18 in Junín, Peru, that left at least five people dead, a statue of the Virgin Mary remained intact even as the roof and part of the façade of St. James the Apostle parish church collapsed.

Speaking from the scene, Father Henry Díaz described the extensive damage to the church, RPP’s Rotafono reported.

“A large part of the church nave has collapsed. You can see huge cracks everywhere and roof tiles that have come loose. The high altar collapsed into the rubble. The statue of the Virgin remains intact,” the priest recounted.

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“The Viceroyalty-era altars have been …very damaged. It appears the church tower is leaning slightly backward and to the right,” Díaz noted.

The priest called on the Ministry of Culture and the authorities who visited the earthquake-affected area to help rebuild the church.

He also noted that the church’s restoration could cost more than 7 million soles ($2.06 M) and take about a year to complete.

July 18 earthquake

Peruʼs bishops offered prayers and expressed their solidarity with the victims of the earthquake that struck the night of July 18, leaving at least five people dead, more than 20 injured, and hundreds more affected.

The earthquake, recorded around 9 p.m., was centered in the district of Chongos Bajo, Chupaca province, Junín region, in the central Peruvian Andes, 193 miles east of Lima, according to the National Civil Defense Institute.

As a result of the quake, the historic Cani Cross erected in 1534 and located in the main square of Chongos Bajo, one of the regionʼs oldest religious monuments, also collapsed.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.