5.5 Magnitude Earthquake Kills Five in Peru's Andes Region

A powerful 5.5 magnitude earthquake jolted the Andes region of Peru on Saturday night, resulting in at least five fatalities and injuring more than 20 people. The tremor has displaced approximately 300 residents, leaving them without homes.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake occurred at 9:24 p.m. local time. Its epicenter was located near the city of Sicaya in Huancayo province, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles). The National Civil Defense Institute of Peru stated that the number of missing persons is still being determined.

Significant structural damage has been reported across the affected area. Several buildings collapsed or sustained severe damage, including a local church and convent, highlighting the quake's intensity. Images from local media depicted the distress of victims' relatives in Chongo Bajo, an agricultural region particularly hard-hit, where residents were seen seeking shelter outdoors amidst the ruins of their homes.

Peru lies within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an area known for frequent seismic activity. The country has experienced devastating earthquakes in the past, including a magnitude 7.9 quake in 2007 that caused nearly 600 deaths in the Ica region.