Cold snap kills five in southern Peru
Date: 16-Jul-02
Country: PERU
The icy spell, which officials say is sparked by the El Nino climate phenomenon, swept Peru's high Andes at altitudes of more than 13,000 feet (4,000 metres), forcing the airport and schools in Puno, on the shore of Lake Titicaca, to close.
The southern tourist mecca of Cusco, gateway to the Inca citadel Machu Picchu, and Arequipa were also badly hit as were other departments across the southern highlands.
Snow more than 3 feet (one meter) deep covered pasture land and officials said 14,000 alpacas, 1,500 llamas and 6,700 sheep had died in Puno alone. Most residents in southern Peru raise animals to live.
Rescue officials handed out blankets and food to thousands of people whose homes have been affected in the region.
"(The cold wave) is clearly showing us that we are seeing the presence of El Nino," said Ena Jaimes of Peru's national meteorological agency.
U.S. officials said a new, but weak, El Nino had officially arrived in the United States. The last El Nino - an abnormal warming of waters in the eastern Pacific that occurs every four to five years and distorts wind and rainfall patterns - unleashed global floods and drought in 1997-98.
El Nino caused some $3.5 billion damage in Peru last time round. Peru is watching its arrival carefully because of the potential impact on its key fishing industry - Peru is the world's biggest producer of fishmeal, used in cattle feed.