Peru earthquake damages buildings and causes power cuts

An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck southern Peru on Thursday, damaging buildings and causing widespread power outages. At least three people sustained minor injuries, according to reports from local officials. The tremor occurred near the small village of Aniso in the Ayacucho region, approximately 19 miles northwest of the settlement, at a depth of 62 miles beneath the surface. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the quake’s magnitude and location, while Peru’s National Institute of Civil Defence noted damage to 10 healthcare facilities in Ayacucho and two in the neighboring Cusco region. The earthquake struck at around 1 p.m. local time, or 6 p.m. GMT, in a remote area of the Andes mountain range. Tremors were felt across much of the country, including in Lima, the capital, located nearly 300 miles away. According to Peru’s defense minister, Rafael Belaunde, 22 homes and six schools were damaged in the affected areas. Additionally, around 9,000 properties experienced power outages, though essential services continued operating normally. Nine educational institutions also suffered structural damage. The quake comes amid a series of powerful seismic events across South America in recent months. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on 10 August, leading to a state of emergency being declared. As of the latest update, over 300 people have died in that disaster. Earlier this year, Venezuela was hit by twin earthquakes on 24 June, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 recorded just 39 seconds apart. Local officials reported more than 6,000 fatalities from those quakes. Peru lies along the boundary of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, making it prone to frequent seismic activity. This week’s earthquake is the latest in a string of major tremors affecting the continent. Despite the frequency of such events, the impact on infrastructure and human life can vary widely depending on factors such as population density, building codes, and preparedness measures. Local authorities have begun coordinating relief efforts, with Belaunde playing a central role in overseeing the emergency response. He stated that none of the injured required hospitalization, and all were treated on-site. The National Institute of Civil Defence has deployed teams to assess damage and ensure the safety of residents in affected regions. Power companies are working to restore electricity to the thousands of households impacted by the outage. In addition to the immediate damage assessment, experts are analyzing whether this quake could trigger further seismic activity in the region. While no aftershocks have been reported so far, geologists remain vigilant given the history of tectonic movements in the area. The Geophysical Institute of Peru initially measured the earthquake at a higher magnitude of 7.2, suggesting potential discrepancies in readings from different monitoring agencies. Residents of Aniso and surrounding areas described feeling intense shaking lasting several seconds. Some expressed concern over the stability of their homes, particularly in older structures not built to withstand strong tremors. Community leaders have urged caution and advised families to keep emergency supplies ready in case of future events. As recovery operations continue, officials are emphasizing the importance of reinforcing infrastructure and improving early warning systems to better prepare for future earthquakes. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing risks posed by seismic activity in one of the world’s most seismically active regions.