Deadly 5.5-Magnitude Quake Rocks Peru's Andes, Six Confirmed Dead
Deadly 5.5-Magnitude Quake Rocks Peru's Andes, Six Confirmed Dead
A powerful 5.5-magnitude earthquake has devastated parts of Peru's Andes region, leaving at least six dead, dozens injured, and hundreds displaced. Buildings, including a church, have collapsed. #PeruQuake
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Peru's Andes region on Saturday night, claiming the lives of at least six people and leaving a trail of destruction. The seismic event, which occurred at 9:24 PM, had its epicenter just 2km west-south-west of the city of Sicaya in Huancayo province, at a depth of 10km.
The powerful tremor injured more than 30 individuals and displaced 300 residents, according to authorities. The National Civil Defence Institute has stated that the total number of missing people is still being determined. Several buildings, including a local church and convent, either collapsed entirely or suffered significant structural damage.
Local civil defense head, Luis Vásquez, attributed the extensive damage to the widespread use of rustic adobe construction materials in the Andean region. He noted that these materials "contributed to the greater impact and damage" observed after the quake. Images from local media show the anguish of affected families in areas like Chongo Bajo, an agricultural region, where residents huddled under blankets outside their severely damaged homes. Animals were also reportedly trapped under rubble.
Hermenegilda Guamalato, a resident, shared her plight with a local radio station, saying, "My home has been destroyed." Peru is situated in the geologically active Pacific "Ring of Fire," making earthquakes a frequent occurrence in the nation.
