Peru: 300+ killed in earthquake

Update (3:00pm): According to U.N. officials the death toll is approximately 450 though Peruvian rescue workers estimate that it will be much higher in the upcoming hours. (Link via Yahoo! News).

Over 300 people have been declared dead after a powerful earthquake shook throughout Peru last night. The tremor- which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale- toppled buildings and sent residents of the Peruvian capital of Lima scrambling for safety:

"I was playing soccer when the quake hit and I had to run back to my office because I am the chief of security. Now I am going to check on my family," said Juan Francisco Acevedo, 29, who works for an Internet company in Lima.

"People here hugging and crying in fear on the streets," said Cristyane Marusiak, a 31-year-old resident. "

A tsunami warning that had been issued for Western Hemispheric countries bordering the Pacific Ocean was called off this morning.

The following is video of footage taken last night by Argentine news as the earthquake was hitting in Lima (video link):

Tags- Guardian UK, Malaysia Star, Forbes, YouTube