Peru: Strong earthquake shakes southern Andes
The quake has a magnitude of 6.7 according to the US Geological Survey, while Peru's Geophysics Institute puts the figure at 7.2. There are no immediate reports of casualties.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck southern Peru's Andes Mountains on Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey. The Peruvian Geophysical Institute measured the quake at 7.2. The temblor occurred at 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter 24 miles northwest of Upahuacho in the Ayacucho region. The quake's depth was reported as 66.7 kilometers by the USGS and 108 kilometers by the IGP.
The National Institute of Civil Defense reported that the earthquake was felt with moderate to strong intensity in several regions of Peru. Images showed rocks and earth falling from hills around Coracora, a town of approximately 10,000 people closest to the epicenter. While there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, residents responded by evacuating and seeking shelter, as Coracora Mayor Yony Odon confirmed.
Luis Vasquez, head of Civil Defense, stated that no damage was reported. The earthquake was felt across southern Peru, including Ica and Arequipa, with reports even reaching Lima. Although earthquakes are common in Peru, situated on the southeastern edge of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to seismic activity, a magnitude 7.9 quake in Ica in 2007 left nearly 600 people dead.
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