Mudslide kills 9, destroys houses as it sweeps through Andean city in Peru

Mudslide kills 9, destroys houses in Peru Andes

AYACUCHO, Peru — A storm-loosened wave of mud and rocks rolled through the streets of Ayacucho in the Peruvian Andes, killing at least nine people while destroying homes and cars, authorities said Thursday.

Wednesday’s mudslide came to within a block of the central plaza in the mountain city of 150,000 people.

Senior Cabinet Minister Javier Velasquez said nine victims were confirmed dead and 23 injured, three of whom were still hospitalized for fractured bones.

Authorities declared a state of emergency and were on guard for further slides in the region, where meteorologists predicted continued intense rains in the coming days.