In brief
A powerful 6.7‑magnitude earthquake struck Peru’s southern Ayacucho region on Thursday, damaging 22 homes and six schools and leaving roughly 9 000 properties offline. Defence Minister Rafael Belaunde reported three injuries, none of which were serious, and confirmed that health‑care facilities remained operational. The Geophysical Institute recorded a slightly higher 7.2 magnitude, underscoring the quake’s strength. Tremors were felt as far as Lima, 482 km away, and the event follows a string of strong earthquakes across South America, including Colombia’s deadly 7.4‑magnitude quake and twin Venezuelan quakes that have killed over 6 000 people.
A 6.7‑magnitude quake struck the southern Ayacucho region of Peru on Thursday, damaging homes and schools and cutting power to about 9 000 properties.
Defence Minister Rafael Belaunde said 22 homes and six schools were damaged and three people were injured, none with serious injuries.
The event also damaged health‑care facilities; services remained operational in the region.
The Geophysical Institute recorded a 7.2 magnitude, a higher reading than the USGS estimate of 6.7.
Tremors were felt as far as the capital, Lima, 482 km away, and the quake comes amid a string of strong events across South America, including Colombia’s 7.4‑magnitude disaster and twin approximately 7‑and‑7.5‑magnitude quakes that killed over 6 000 people in Venezuela.
Peru sits on the boundary between the Nazca and South American plates, making it prone to seismic activity.
