A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru on Thursday, causing injuries to at least two individuals and significant damage to residential properties, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, as confirmed by officials. 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, reaching a depth of 66 kilometers.
The seismic event was felt across various regions in southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and even the capital city of Lima. Luis Vasquez, the head of Civil Defence, informed the media that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences in Coracora, the principal city of the Parinacochas province.
Authorities also disclosed that 22 homes, six healthcare facilities, and a school suffered damages in multiple districts spanning Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing towns like Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru, located within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activity, with earthquakes being a common occurrence. Notably, in 2007, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region claimed the lives of nearly 600 individuals.