Peru earthquake kills one, injures ten

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattled central Peru on Saturday night, leaving at least one person dead and ten injured, according to preliminary reports. The seismic event, followed by a 3.7 magnitude aftershock just 17 minutes later, struck the Andean region of Junín.

The primary tremor occurred at 9:24 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 7 kilometers south of Chupaca. The earthquake originated at a depth of 24 kilometers, registering a moderate intensity in the affected area. The subsequent aftershock had an epicenter 14 kilometers south of Chupaca at a depth of 18 kilometers.

The most significant damage was reported in the district of Chongos Bajo, where the fatality occurred. Ten individuals were injured and treated at the Daniel Alcides Carrión National Hospital in Huancayo, the capital of Junín. The Regional Maternity and Children's Hospital El Carmen in Huancayo also sustained damage, with cracks appearing in its pediatric intensive care unit.

Beyond structural damage to hospitals and the collapse of a stone religious monument, the "Cani Cruz de Chongos Alto," and parts of the "Antiguo Convento de Santiago de León," power outages affected several districts. However, initial assessments from the National Emergency Operations Committee indicated no impact on national road networks. Peru lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its high seismic activity, experiencing approximately 85% of the world's earthquakes.