A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries and damage to homes, health centers, and schools, according to authorities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake 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, at a depth of 66 kilometers.
The earthquake was felt across various regions in southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and Lima. Civil Defence head Luis Vasquez confirmed that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their homes in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Authorities also noted significant damage to 22 residences, six healthcare facilities, and a school in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location within the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
In a previous seismic event in 2007, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region resulted in the loss of nearly 600 lives.
