In pictures: Peru earthquake

Local residents and rescuers search through rubble after Wednesday's powerful earthquake, which hit coastal areas of Peru, killing hundreds of people.

UN officials said that the death toll was likely to rise as the destruction of buildings in the affected area was "quite total".

More than 1,500 people were injured. Health workers abandoned an industrial strike to treat the casualties.

The 8.0-magnitude quake left parts of coastal Peru in ruins, without electricity, water or communications.

The province of Ica, south of Lima and close to the epicentre of the quake, was worst hit.

Many of the more rudimentary homes and offices in the area simply collapsed under the sustained force of the quake.

In Lima, where many newer buildings are designed to withstand earthquakes, residents still poured into the streets, where the ground shook for two minutes.

Many chose to spend the night in outdoor public spaces, either because of damage to buildings or fears of aftershocks.

Outside the capital, roads were badly affected with many people in damaged towns effectively cut off.

Meanwhile, thousands of people in Peru have been trying to contact loved ones.

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