A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to at least two individuals and significant damage to residences, healthcare facilities, and schools, as confirmed by authorities. The seismic event, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 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 the capital city, Lima. Luis Vasquez, the head of Civil Defence, informed the media that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences during the quake in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Authorities also confirmed structural damages to 22 houses, six healthcare facilities, and a school in multiple districts within Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari towns. Peru, being situated in 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.