SANTIAGO, Peru – A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Peru’s central Andes late Saturday, killing at least six people, injuring more than 30 others and forcing hundreds of residents from their homes as emergency crews continued search, rescue and damage assessment operations.
The earthquake struck at 9:24 p.m. local time, with its epicenter about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west-southwest of the city of Sicaya in Huancayo province, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), making it a relatively shallow earthquake capable of producing stronger ground shaking near the surface.
Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute said rescue teams were still assessing affected communities, and authorities had not yet determined how many people remained missing.
Historic Buildings Among Those Damaged
The earthquake damaged or destroyed numerous buildings across the region.
Among the hardest-hit sites was the historic Santiago de León Church and former convent in Chongos Bajo, a religious complex built in 1565 and recognized as a national cultural heritage site.
Officials also reported damage to homes, public buildings and local infrastructure in several nearby communities.
Luis Vásquez, head of the local civil defense office, said the widespread use of traditional adobe construction contributed significantly to the destruction because such buildings are especially vulnerable to earthquake damage.
Hundreds Forced From Their Homes
Emergency officials said about 300 residents were displaced after their homes became unsafe.
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Television footage from local broadcasters showed families spending the night outdoors wrapped in blankets while authorities inspected damaged buildings. In the agricultural community of Chongos Bajo, rescuers also worked to free livestock trapped beneath collapsed structures.
“My home has been destroyed,” resident Hermenegilda Guamalato told a local radio station as she searched for temporary shelter with her three children in neighboring Huayucachi.
Emergency crews continued inspecting damaged structures Sunday while searching for anyone who may still be trapped or unaccounted for.
Peru Lies Along One of the World’s Most Active Seismic Zones
Peru experiences frequent earthquakes because it sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast belt of seismic and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Ocean where several tectonic plates meet.
The latest earthquake also revived memories of one of Peru’s deadliest modern disasters. In 2007, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the southern province of Pisco, killing nearly 600 people and causing widespread destruction across the Ica region.
Authorities said rescue operations and structural assessments would continue until every affected community had been inspected and all missing persons had been accounted for.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: Peru | Earthquake | Andes | Natural Disaster | Emergency Response | Huancayo | Chongos Bajo | Seismic Activity
