Another strong quake hits Peru

The original quake left thousands homeless

Another strong earthquake has hit southern Peru, causing panic and some damage in the country's second largest city, Arequipa.

Local media reported that a few houses collapsed following the quake on Saturday, but there were no reports of serious injuries.

The Geophysical Institute of Peru said the quake's epicentre was located in the Pacific Ocean.

The earthquake was the third to hit the area in as many days, and came just two weeks after a quake with a magnitude of 8.1 devastated parts of Peru killing at least 75 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

President-elect Alejandro Toledo announced on Friday that he had secured $52 million in international aid to help earthquake victims during a 12-day official tour of the United States and Europe.

Landslides

Authorities said an earthquake with a magnitude of five struck on Friday in the same zone.

It caused several landslides and blocked parts of the Pan-American highway in Peru's southern coastal desert.

A magnitude-6 quake hit the region on Thursday sparking panic and causing hundreds of already severely damaged homes to collapse.