Magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Peru affects two people, damages infrastructure

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake jolted southern Peru on Thursday, leaving two individuals affected and causing damage to infrastructure, though no severe consequences have been reported thus far. The tremor, which occurred at 1:00 PM local time, originated at a significant depth of 108 kilometers, mitigating its potentially catastrophic impact.

“

Until now, no health damage or direct affectation to people has been reported by the earthquake; we expect that as time passes, more data will become available.

The epicenter was located 35 kilometers north of Coracora, in the Ayacucho region. Preliminary reports indicate that eight homes in Puquio, three health institutions in Ayacucho, and twelve homes and a health center in Puyo sustained damage. In Coracora itself, two people were injured while evacuating, and five educational institutions were affected, alongside landslides on a hill and in Chancas.

“

We are monitoring permanently and continue to receive information from the area hit by the earthquake.

Further damage assessments are underway in San Pedro, where two homes and an educational institution were impacted, and in Cotaruse, where one educational institution was affected. In the neighboring Cusco region, the Regional Hospital and the Palace of Justice reported damage.

“

It is what we have, so far these are preliminary reports that need to be validated, and as this passes, more information will surely arrive.

Luis Vásquez, head of the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci), emphasized that authorities are conducting continuous monitoring and receiving information from the affected areas. He urged the public to rely on official channels for verified information, cautioning against unverified reports and images circulating on social media that do not accurately represent the earthquake's impact. The significant depth of the earthquake, according to the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), caused it to be felt across multiple regions, including Lima, but without critical effects.

“

We have verified that on networks some photographs have appeared that do not correspond to the earthquake, so we ask citizens to guide themselves by official channels.