PERUVIANS’ CELEBRATIONS AFTER Jefferson Farfan’s opening goal in their World Cup play-off second leg victory over New Zealand triggered warnings from several earthquake detection apps in the capital city of Lima last night.
Peru reached the World Cup for the first time since Spain 1982 with a 2-0 aggregate victory over the All Whites, and the reaction to Farfan’s blasted finish on 27 minutes bordered on seismic.
Sismologia Chile reported that a tremor had been felt in its neighbouring country, but later clarified that “the alarm detector was activated in the district of Lima due to Peru’s goal celebration against New Zealand.”
#sismo detectado en tiempo real en #ProvinciadeLima #Perú por @SismoDetector. Descarga la app https://t.co/X9AAsPbXNX https://t.co/yb5qXJVMed
— Sismologia Chile (@SismologiaCh) November 16, 2017
INCREÍBLE | Alarma de Sismo Detector se habría activado en el Distrito de Lima debido a la celebración del gol de Perú a Nueva Zelanda.
— Sismologia Chile (@SismologiaCh) November 16, 2017
The Spanish version of the Earthquake Network app, a crowd-sourced app that utilises users’ phone to detect earthquake tremors, sent an alert moments after the veteran Peru attacker smashed home from 10 yards.
Researchers quickly ascertained that the sudden release of energy in the city was not caused by rock breaking along a fault, but rather the mass movement of Peruvians reacting to a potentially historic goal for the country.
Farfan’s first international goal in two years was followed by a Christian Ramos strike in the 65th minute as Peru ended their 35-year wait for World Cup qualification.
The Peruvian government has since extended the celebrations by declaring today a public holiday.
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