A powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and significant damage to residences, medical facilities, and schools, as per officials. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred at 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho city in the Parinacochas province of the Ayacucho region, reaching a depth of 66 kilometers.
The seismic event was felt in various parts of southern Peru, encompassing Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and even in the capital, Lima. Civil Defence head Luis Vasquez confirmed that two individuals sustained injuries while fleeing their residences in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Noteworthy damage was also reported, including 22 homes, six healthcare facilities, and a school in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, affecting towns like Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru frequently experiences earthquakes due to its location within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” known for its high seismic activity.
In a tragic event in 2007, a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Ica region province claimed the lives of almost 600 people.