PISCO, Peru, Aug. 17 — No area along the southern coast of Peru, which was ravaged by an earthquake that killed at least 510 people, appears to have been harder hit than this port city.
Most of the city’s homes and office buildings were destroyed, leaving survivors wandering the streets and mourning in the open air, surrounded by shards of adobe and cinderblocks.
Rescuers have been forced by the destruction to walk far out of their way as they carried bodies, sometimes in coffins on their shoulders, toward a makeshift morgue at the overwhelmed hospital. Coffins sat in front of many doorways in anticipation of the recovery of loved ones in the rubble.



At least 300 were killed in Pisco, according to local officials, including dozens inside the San Clemente cathedral, which was full for Mass when the quake caused it to cave in. Witnesses said the spire bell clanged horribly in the seconds before it tumbled down.
At least 17,000 people were displaced by the earthquake and wide areas are without power, telephone service or road access.
Just outside Pisco, mobs descended upon cars to loot food, water, lumber and other aid materials coming from Lima, the capital city about 125 miles to the north. Police seemed disoriented, but tried to disperse the crowds by shooting weapons into the air.
The road from Lima suffered serious damages in the earthquake and crevices in the pavement made passing difficult at several points.
Inside the city, power and water service were still out, and many residents slept outside again last night, afraid that aftershocks could topple more structures.

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