IGP Chief Explains Loud Noise Before Lima Earthquake: 'There Are Two Wave Trains'

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake shook Lima, Peru, on Wednesday morning, with its epicenter located 42 kilometers southwest of Lurín at a depth of 42 kilometers. While the tremor itself registered a moderate intensity, it was the distinct loud noise heard seconds before the shaking that captured the attention of many residents.

Hernando Tavera, the head of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), clarified the phenomenon during an interview. He explained that seismic events generate two types of waves: P-waves and S-waves. The P-waves, which travel faster, arrive first and can be perceived as a sharp sound or a sudden jolt. Subsequently, the S-waves arrive, causing the more significant ground shaking. Tavera noted that the specific depth and proximity of this earthquake's epicenter to Lima contributed to the audible P-wave phenomenon being noticeable to the capital's inhabitants.

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We are a seismic country, we have been repeating this many times, and we must always be prepared.

Tavera took the opportunity to remind the public of Peru's inherent seismic vulnerability. "We are a seismic country, we have been repeating this many times, and we must always be prepared," he stated. He emphasized that earthquakes are a natural part of the country's geological dynamics and that preparedness is essential.

Addressing recent seismic activity in neighboring Venezuela and Colombia, Tavera stated that current scientific data does not indicate an anomalous increase in seismic activity or predict a larger event. However, he reiterated that the possibility of a stronger earthquake cannot be ruled out, underscoring the ongoing importance of public preparedness measures.

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Simply put, the earthquakes are happening where they have always had to happen. There is nothing strange about that.