A powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck the southern Andes Mountains of Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and significant damage to residences, medical facilities, and educational institutions, as confirmed by authorities. The seismic event, as reported by 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 the capital city of Lima. Civil Defence Chief Luis Vasquez informed the media that two individuals sustained injuries while evacuating their residences during the tremor in Coracora, the principal city of Parinacochas province.

Authorities also noted significant structural damage, including 22 houses, six medical centers, and a school in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, encompassing Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru, being situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic events.

The region’s history includes a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake in 2007 in the Ica region, resulting in the tragic loss of nearly 600 lives.