A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and significant damage to residences, medical facilities, and educational institutions, as authorities confirmed. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicated 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, reaching a depth of 66 kilometers.
The tremors were felt across various regions in southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and even Lima. Luis Vasquez, the Civil Defence head, informed the media that two individuals sustained injuries during the evacuation process in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Authorities documented 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 is susceptible to earthquakes due to its location within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent seismic occurrences. Notably, in 2007, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 600 lives.