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 residences, medical facilities, and educational institutions, as per officials. 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, reaching a depth of 66 kilometers.
The impact of the earthquake was felt in various areas of southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, and Cusco, as well as in the capital city of Lima. Civil Defence chief Luis Vasquez confirmed that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences in Coracora, the principal town of Parinacochas province.
Reports from authorities indicated damage to 22 houses, six medical centers, and a school in multiple districts spanning Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing the communities of Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru, being situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic events. Notably, in 2007, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck a province in the Ica region, resulting in the loss of nearly 600 lives.