A seismic event with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru on Thursday, causing injuries to at least two individuals and causing structural damage to residences, medical facilities, and educational institutions, according to officials. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the earthquake took place at 1 p.m. local time and was centered 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho, a city in the Parinacochas province of the Ayacucho region, with a depth of 66 kilometers.
The tremor was felt in various regions of southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and the capital city, Lima. Civil Defence Director Luis Vasquez informed the media that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences in Coracora, the principal city of the Parinacochas province.
Moreover, authorities disclosed that 22 residences, six medical facilities, and a school in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco suffered damages, including in Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru frequently experiences seismic events due to its location within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone known for intense tectonic movements.
Notably, in 2007, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 600 lives.