Terrifying images show people fleeing for their life as a landslide in Peru sweeps everything before it with around 150 homes buried.
Footage shows the moment that part of a hillside starts to collapse on Thursday around 6pm and head for the region of Chavin de Huantar in northern Peru, before screaming people start running away.
The country’s defence minister Jose Luis Gavidia confirmed to TVPeru that 150 homes had been caught in the landslide and a regional rescue team (COER) has called for the evacuation of the villagers.
Mr Gavidia said: “I have received an order from the president to go to the district of Chavin de Huanter. The initial report we have is that there are about 150 homes that have been affected and we have sent soldiers to the area.”
He later said: " I have spoken to the district mayor. Apparently there was an elderly man who was unable to get out but we have not been able to confirm this. I am in the emergency centre in Ancash and we will meet up with the president who is now also in the area."
COER had warned earlier this week about the danger of landslides in the area where villagers live below a steep hill.
A slide had started on June 21 but it was on Thursday at 6pm that it began again and a lot stronger.
“There is a lot of panic and confusion at this time of night. The authorities are moving to the area to help rescue people," updated a Canal N journalist at the scene.
One of the videos showed a huge wave of rocks falling down along with a cloud of dust above it and darkening the sky.
COER has not said how many people have been injured.
Peru President Pedro Castillo sent out a message for "calm".
He tweeted: "I am sad to hear of what has happened in Chavin de Huantar, my condolences to the families and the people who have been affected. I have arranged for the ministry of defence to go to the area and deal with the emergency.
"I am calling on the public to keep calm and I am asking the regional authorities to help evacuate people to a safe area to protect them."
The landslide has brought back memories of a devastating earthquake that affected the area in 1970 where a whole village was buried.
In one of the world’s worst ever landslides a total of around 80,000 people were killed due to the large amount of snow and ice that was also mixed in with the earth and rock.
