A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and significant damage to residences, medical facilities, and schools, as confirmed by authorities. The seismic event, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), occurred at 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho city in the Parinacochas province of Ayacucho, at a depth of 66 kilometers.
The impact of the earthquake was felt across various regions in southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and even in the capital city of Lima. Civil Defence chief Luis Vasquez mentioned that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences during the tremor in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Furthermore, authorities reported structural damages to 22 houses, six medical facilities, and a school in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing towns such as Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru experiences frequent seismic events due to its location within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” known for its high seismic activity.
Notably, a devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.9 in 2007 in the Ica region resulted in the loss of nearly 600 lives, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to such natural disasters.
