A powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and significant damage to residences, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, as confirmed by authorities. 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 the Ayacucho region, at 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 the capital city of Lima. Luis Vasquez, the Civil Defence chief, informed the media that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their homes in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Authorities also disclosed damages to 22 residences, six healthcare centers, and a school in multiple districts spanning Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru, being situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activities. Notably, in 2007, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region resulted in the loss of nearly 600 lives.
