A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the southern Andes Mountains in Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and significant damage to homes, 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 of Lima. Civil Defence chief Luis Vasquez informed the press that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
Authorities also noted damages to 22 residences, six healthcare centers, and a school in multiple districts spanning Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing towns like Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru, situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activities, with earthquakes being a common occurrence. Notably, in 2007, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region led to the loss of nearly 600 lives.