Peru earthquake has NYers reaching out

from amNewYorkBy Magdalene Perez August 17, 2007

Peruvian immigrants in neighborhoods like Jackson Heights and Corona clogged public calling centers and tied up phone lines trying to reach loved ones in the wake of the massive earthquake in Peru Wednesday night.

"There was no answer," Ricardo Ordonez, 21, whose family lives in Lima, said. "I was calling for hours."

Lines up to 20 to 30 people filled public calling centers, known as telefonicos, Jackson Heights residents said. The frantic phone calls were met with busy signals for at least two hours, and some lines were still tied up Thursday...