Peru frequently experiences earthquakes, but a 5.5-magnitude quake recently struck the central highlands, marking the largest in nearly five decades. Six people died, and at least 20 suffered injuries in this incident.
The earthquake hit the Junín region, close to the rural district of Chongos Bajos, at 9:24 p.m. on Saturday. It resulted in damage to dozens of homes and forced approximately 300 residents to seek refuge in a sports stadium due to aftershocks, as reported by Peru’s National Institute of Civil Defense.
Local broadcaster RPP reported significant damage to the town’s 16th-century church and chapel. The United States Geological Survey indicated the quake’s depth was about 6.2 miles, mentioning its magnitude as 5.5. However, Peru’s National Geophysical Institute noted a magnitude of 5.1 and a depth of approximately 15 miles.
Hernando Tavera, head of Peru’s Geophysical Institute, stated that this was the largest earthquake in the central highlands since two quakes of 5.9 and 6 magnitude in 1969. This year, Peru has already recorded 450 earthquakes, aligning with the country’s typical seismic activity.
The quake caused power outages in towns near the epicenter. Many villages remained without electricity on Sunday, according to Luis Vásquez, head of the National Institute of Civil Defense, during the program Exitosa Noticias.
Hernando Tavera explained that the traditional adobe and straw houses in the Andes are especially prone to collapse during such tremors.