Deadly Peru quake leaves families outside overnight
Authorities say at least five people died and more than 300 were displaced after a shallow quake hit Peru’s central Andes region.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
At least five people were killed after an earthquake hit Peru’s central Andes region Saturday night, according to authorities, with more than 20 others injured and hundreds pushed out of their homes.
Officials said the 5.5-magnitude quake struck near the city of Sicaya in central Peru at a depth of about 6 miles. The shallow jolt caused damage across the area, including in communities where residents spent the night outdoors while emergency teams moved through damaged neighborhoods.
Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute said at least 300 people have been displaced. Officials were still working to establish how many people remained missing.
Buildings collapse as crews search neighborhoods
Authorities said several structures partially collapsed, including a church and a convent. Homes in some of the worst-hit farming communities were reduced to rubble, according to officials.
Local TV images showed residents gathered outside through the night as rescue and emergency crews searched affected streets and buildings. The full scale of the damage was still being assessed.
A post on X by We News described a strong tremor in Peru with an epicenter south of Chupaca and said the quake caused damage in Huancayo, the capital of the Junín department. The post listed the magnitude as 5.5.
Another post on X by David de la Paz said Peruvian authorities reported a 5.1-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter 7 kilometers south of Chupaca in Junín. That post said the quake reached an intensity of IV to V in the area and left several parts of the Chilca district in Huancayo without electricity.
The differing magnitude figures were attributed to the separate reports. Authorities cited in the main account placed the quake at magnitude 5.5.
Peru faces frequent earthquake risk
Peru lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone known for heavy seismic activity. Earthquakes are a recurring danger for the country because of its position along that belt.
The weekend quake follows a long history of deadly seismic events in Peru. In 2007, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in southern Peru killed nearly 600 people.
As of the latest official information, the confirmed toll from the central Peru quake stood at at least five dead, more than 20 injured and at least 300 displaced. Authorities continued checking damaged areas and working to determine whether anyone was still missing.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.