At least five people lost their lives and over 20 were injured when a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Andes region of Peru late on Sunday, according to local authorities.
The earthquake occurred at 9:24 pm local time, with its epicentre located 2 kilometres west-southwest of Sicaya in Huancayo province, at a depth of 10 kilometres, as reported by the US Geological Survey.
More than 300 people have been displaced due to the earthquake, while the number of missing individuals remains unknown, according to the authorities.
Several buildings, including a local church and convent, either collapsed or sustained significant structural damage, as stated by Peru’s National Civil Defence Institute.
Local media footage showed residents gathered outdoors under blankets in the agricultural area of Chongo Bajo, one of the worst-affected locations, as rescue efforts continued, with images also showing homes reduced to rubble and livestock trapped beneath the debris.
Emergency teams have been deployed to the affected areas, and authorities are working to assess the full extent of the damage and search for any missing people.
Peru is highly prone to seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most active earthquake zones, and in 2007, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Pisco province in the Ica region, resulting in nearly 600 fatalities.
