A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and damaging residences, medical facilities, and educational institutions, as per authorities. 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, at a depth of 66 kilometers.
The seismic event was felt in various regions of southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and even in Lima, the capital city. Luis Vasquez, the head of Civil Defence, mentioned that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences during the quake in Coracora, the capital of the Parinacochas province.
Authorities also confirmed structural damages to 22 houses, six medical facilities, and a school in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru experiences frequent earthquakes due to its location within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for high seismic activity. Notably, in 2007, a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Ica region resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 600 lives.