Landslide hits Peruvian town, buries dozens of houses

Seven people are missing and about sixty houses are buried in the Peruvian province of Pataz after a devastating landslide. Peruvian President Pedro Castillo posted on Twitter: "I have arranged for the head of the National Civil Defense Institute and the Minister of Defense to go to the area affected by the landslide in the province of Pataz, in the La Libertad region. We will support the affected families and coordinate various actions with the local authorities."

This handout photo released by the Peruvian Presidency press office shows Peruvian President Pedro Castillo flying in a helicopter over the area after a landslide affected dozens of buildings in Retama, Parcoy district, Peru, March 16, 2022.

Rescue teams gather near a landslide on a street in Retamas, in Pataz, Peru, March 15, 2022.

Rescue workers dig in a building affected by a landslide that buried dozens of homes in Retamas village, Parcoy district in northern Peru, March 15, 2022.

Rescue teams gather near a landslide on a street in Retamas, in Pataz, Peru, March 15, 2022.

Rescue workers dig in a building affected by a landslide that buried dozens of homes in Retamas village, Parcoy district in northern Peru, March 15, 2022.

Handout photo released by the Peruvian Presidency press office of a rescue worker at a building damaged by a landslide in Retama, Parcoy district, Peru, March 15, 2022.

Rescue workers dig in a building affected by a landslide that buried dozens of homes in Retamas village, Parcoy district in northern Peru, March 15, 2022.

This handout photo released by the Peruvian Presidency press office shows a rescue worker at a building damaged by a landslide in Retama, Parcoy district, Peru, March 16, 2022.

View of a landslide of stone and mud that buried dozens of houses in Retamas town, Parcoy district northern Peru, March 15, 2022.

Handout photo released by the Peruvian Presidency press office shows an aerial view of the area after a landslide affected dozens of buildings in Retama, Parcoy district, Peru, March 16, 2022.

This handout photo released by the Peruvian Presidency press office shows an aerial view of the area after a landslide affected dozens of buildings in Retama, Parcoy district, Peru, March 16, 2022.

Aerial view of the landslide of stone and mud that buried dozens of houses in Retamas town, Parcoy district northern Peru, March 15, 2022.

Handout photo released by the Peruvian Presidency press office of a hillside in Retama, Parcoy district, Peru, March 16, 2022.