A magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook several regions of Peru

A significant earthquake, registering a magnitude of 6.7 according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), shook Peru's southern Andes on Thursday. The tremor occurred around 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 35 kilometers north of Coracora in the Parinacochas province of the Ayacucho department. The USGS also reported a depth of 66.7 kilometers for the quake.

The Peruvian Geophysical Institute (IGP) offered a different magnitude reading, placing it at 7.2, with a greater depth of 108 kilometers. The institute's coordinates for the epicenter were latitude -14.70 and longitude -73.78. The earthquake's intensity was felt across various southern regions, including Ica and Arequipa, prompting videos of the shaking to surface on social media.

Officials have been quick to reassure the public. Hernando Tavera, head of the IGP, stated that while the earthquake was perceived strongly and caused people to evacuate into the streets, no critical incidents have been reported. Similarly, Luis Vasquez, head of Civil Defense, confirmed to RPP radio that "at the moment no type of damage is reported." The mayor of Parinacochas province echoed these sentiments, reporting no affectations in the provincial capital. Peru's Navy also issued a statement ruling out any tsunami risk.

Peru is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making it prone to frequent seismic activity. The country experienced a devastating earthquake in 2007, a magnitude 7.9 event that primarily impacted the Ica region and resulted in nearly 600 fatalities. The IGP emphasized that seismic information is officially disseminated only through its network and warned the public against heeding unverified reports on social media, reiterating that earthquakes cannot be predicted by current scientific methods.