Magnitude 6.7 earthquake shakes Peru's southern Andes, USGS says

A significant earthquake struck Peru's southern Andes Mountains on Thursday, registering a magnitude of 6.7 according to the US Geological Survey and 7.2 by Peru's Geophysical Institute. The tremor occurred at 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho in the Ayacucho region. The USGS recorded the quake at a depth of 66.7 kilometers, while the IGP estimated it to be 108 kilometers deep.

The earthquake was felt with moderate to strong intensity in various departments, according to the National Institute of Civil Defense. Images from local media showed rocks and earth collapsing on hills near Coracora, a town of approximately 10,000 inhabitants situated closest to the epicenter. No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been made, and the Peruvian Navy confirmed there was no tsunami threat.

Coracora's mayor, Yony Odon, stated that the population responded by evacuating and taking shelter, while Civil Defense head Luis Vasquez confirmed there was no reported damage. Tremors were felt across southern Peru, including Ica and Arequipa, and even as far away as Lima. Peruvian earthquakes are common, occurring on the southeastern edge of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent seismic activity. A magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Ica's province in 2007 claimed nearly 600 lives.