Magnitude 7.2 earthquake shakes Peru's Andean Ayacucho region

A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake jolted the southern Peruvian region of Ayacucho on Thursday, according to the Peruvian Geophysical Institute (IGP). The seismic event's epicenter was pinpointed 35 kilometers north of Coracora, a town situated approximately 650 kilometers south of Lima.

The earthquake struck at 13:00 local time (18:00 GMT) and originated at a depth of 108 kilometers. While the tremor was felt with moderate intensity in Coracora, its effects were perceived as light in the capital city, Lima.

Initial reports from local media suggested rockfalls and some damage to residential buildings in Ayacucho. However, the Regional Emergency Operations Center (COEN) has yet to confirm the extent of personal or material damage. The head of the IGP, Hernando Tavera, stated that "nothing critical has happened for now" but that the situation is under continuous evaluation. Authorities have also dismissed the possibility of a tsunami.

Peru lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to frequent seismic activity, accounting for 80% of the world's earthquakes. This recent event follows a series of tremors in July that hit the neighboring region of Junín, causing five deaths, displacing hundreds, and destroying numerous homes. The country's most devastating earthquake in recent history occurred in 2007 in the southern region of Ica, resulting in approximately 500 fatalities and extensive material losses.