A 6.7 magnitude earthquake rattled the southern Andes Mountains of Peru on Thursday, causing injuries to two individuals and destruction to residences, medical facilities, and educational institutions, as confirmed by authorities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake struck 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 the capital city of Lima. Civil Defence director Luis Vasquez informed the media that two people sustained injuries while evacuating their homes in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Officials also stated that 22 residences, six medical facilities, and a school suffered damages in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, comprising 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 claimed the lives of nearly 600 individuals.
