Mortality and injury following the 2007 Ica earthquake in Peru.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify earthquake injury and mortality from the 2007 Ica earthquake in Peru and to assess earthquake-related risk and vulnerability. DESIGN: A population-based cluster survey of households in the region most affected by the earthquake. A stratified cluster survey design was used to allow for comparison between urban, periurban, and rural areas, where different outcomes were anticipated as a result of variation in building practices and access to post-earthquake assistance. A total of 42 clusters of 16 households were planned to allow for comparison between the location types and to ensure adequate spatial coverage. SETTING: The four affected provinces in Southern Peru: Ica, Pisco, Chincha, and Canete. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 672 randomly selected households with a combined population of 3,608 individuals, of which 3,484 (97 percent) were reported as household members on the day of the earthquake. RESULTS: Mortality and injury rates in the four most affected provinces were estimated at 1.4 deaths/ 1,000 exposed (95 CI: 0.5-3.3) and 29 injuries/1,000 exposed (95 CI: 6-52). Older adults and members of households of lower socioeconomic status faced increased risk of injury. No significant differences in injury rates were observed between rural, urban, and peri-urban residence areas. CONCLUSIONS: Populations of lower socioeconomic status faced increased risk of injury; however, no differences in injury rates were observed between rural, urban, and peri-urban communities. Study findings suggest that earthquake preparedness and mitigation efforts should focus on population subgroups of lower socioeconomic in both rural and urban areas of earthquake-prone regions.