A seismic event measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale rattled the southern Andes Mountains of Peru on Thursday, as confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of any significant damage caused by the earthquake.
The USGS reported that the quake struck at 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho in the Parinacochas province of the Ayacucho region. The seismic activity occurred at a depth of 66 kilometers.
Residents in various regions of southern Peru, including Ica and Arequipa, experienced the tremors caused by the earthquake. Luis Vasquez, the Civil Defence chief, stated on a local radio station, RPP, that there have been no reports of any damage thus far.
Parinacochas province Mayor, Yony Reyes, also confirmed that there have been no indications of damage in the provincial capital. Additionally, the Peruvian Navy reassured that there is no threat of a tsunami following the earthquake.
Peru is no stranger to earthquakes, being situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area known for its heightened seismic activity. In a tragic event back in 2007, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region resulted in the loss of nearly 600 lives.