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. The seismic event, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), took place at 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho in the Parinacochas province of Ayacucho, at a depth of 66 kilometers.
The impact of the earthquake was felt in various regions of southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and even in the capital city, Lima. Civil Defence chief Luis Vasquez confirmed that two people sustained injuries while evacuating their homes in Coracora, the provincial capital of Parinacochas.
The aftermath of the earthquake led to significant structural damage, affecting 22 residences, six medical centers, and a school in multiple districts across Ayacucho and Cusco, including Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru, being situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activities. Notably, in 2007, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region resulted in the loss of nearly 600 lives.