This is why it's important to be armed. If we had an 8.0 quake in the US, I bet it'd look much the same.
Looting, assaults in Peru quake aftermath
Lima (dpa) - Assaults and looting started to become prevalent on Friday in the Peruvian region of Ica, the area most affected by an earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 400 people.
In Pisco, the city most affected by the quake, a crowd raided a pharmacy and took whatever they could find before Peruvian television cameras. Attackers defended their actions by saying they still have not received help.
City residents said similar incidents were seen in several areas of Pisco, which already had severe crime problems before the tragedy.
Freddy Ternero, mayor of the San Martin de Porres district in Lima, attempted to take aid to the affected areas on behalf of his constituency. But outside the city of Ica his truck and several others were attacked by some 300 people who wanted to take their loads, he told Peruvian television.
Ternero requested the presence of police or the army in the area devastated by Wednesday's earthquake, and said that when the attempted robbery failed attackers threw stones at the vehicles.
There were also reports of robberies in rural areas that rescue teams had not yet reached.
"I hope the government manages to distribute aid soon, because people are getting desperate," said Ternero, a popular figure after coaching the country's national football team.
Some 30,000 buildings were thought to have collapsed and more than 85,000 Peruvians were made homeless by the quake. Rescue teams were still searching for survivors under the rubble, while the worst-hit cities were still without water and electricity supplies Friday.