A powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and significant damage to residences, medical facilities, and schools. The seismic event, recorded 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 the Ayacucho region. The quake reached 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 Lima, the capital city. Civil Defence chief Luis Vasquez confirmed that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences in Coracora, the main city of the Parinacochas province.
Authorities disclosed that 22 houses, six medical facilities, and a school suffered damages in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru, being situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activities. Notably, in 2007, a devastating earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck the Ica region, claiming the lives of nearly 600 people.