A severe earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and significant damage to homes, health facilities, and schools, as confirmed by officials. 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 activity was felt across various regions in southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and even the capital city, Lima. Civil Defence chief Luis Vasquez informed the media that two individuals sustained injuries while fleeing their residences during the quake in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Reports from authorities indicated that 22 residences, six healthcare facilities, and a school suffered damage in multiple districts within Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari towns.
Peru, situated in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic events. Notably, in 2007, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region resulted in the loss of nearly 600 lives.