A powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck the southern Andes Mountains in Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and substantial damage to homes, health facilities, and schools. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the seismic event occurred at 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho city in the Parinacochas province of Ayacucho. The quake had 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 Lima, the capital city. Civil Defence chief Luis Vasquez confirmed that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Authorities noted significant structural damage, including 22 houses, six medical facilities, and a school in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari.
Peru, situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activities. Notably, in 2007, a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Ica region claimed the lives of nearly 600 people.