A preliminary 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Peru’s southern Andes Mountains on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake was recorded 38 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Upahuacho in the Parinacochas province of the Ayacucho region, at a depth of 66.7 kilometers (41 miles).
The earthquake occurred at around 1 p.m. local time (18:00 GMT) and was felt across several parts of southern Peru, including Ica and Arequipa. Videos from Ayacucho showed the aftermath of the powerful tremor.
The USGS initially reported the earthquake at magnitude 6.7, with coordinates of 14.626°S, 73.616°W. There were no immediate reports of damage.
Luis Vásquez, head of Civil Defense, told local radio station RPP that no damage had been reported so far. Yony Reyes, mayor of Parinacochas province, also said there were no reports of damage in the provincial capital. The Peruvian Navy said there was no tsunami threat.
Peru experiences frequent earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area known for significant seismic activity. In 2007, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Ica region killed nearly 600 people.