Southern Peru Struck by 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake

LIMA, Peru—Early Friday, the southern coast of Peru was shaken by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. Authorities have reported no immediate casualties.

The U.S. Geological Survey stated that the earthquake occurred at 12:36 a.m. (0536 GMT) with the epicenter located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of the district of Atiquipa, in the Province of Caravelí. This area is about 380 miles south of the capital, Lima, near the borders with Chile and Bolivia. The depth of the earthquake was 17 miles (28 kilometers).

Reports from local media indicated that the earthquake was felt in the nearby regions of Ayacucho, Ica, and in the capital city. The mayor of the district of Sancos, Eder Allca, mentioned to local radio station RPP that rock slides from the earthquake affected roads and cut off several localities in his district.

The Hydrography and Navigation Directorate of the Peruvian Navy issued a tsunami alert along the Peruvian coast due to the seismic activity. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu stated that the threat of a tsunami had passed.

Peru experiences frequent earthquakes due to its location in the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”