Twin Earthquakes Strike Peru, Killing at Least Five and Injuring 21

Peru's Junin region, located east of the capital Lima, was struck by two earthquakes on Saturday night, resulting in at least five fatalities and 21 injuries. The quakes, measured at magnitudes 5.1 and 3.7 by the National Seismological Center, caused significant damage in the mountainous area.

Early reports indicate a substantial impact on housing, with at least 48 homes destroyed and 18 damaged. This destruction has displaced around 300 people, who are now being accommodated in tents. Rescue workers are actively searching for individuals who may still be trapped beneath the rubble.

“

I deeply regret the consequences of the earthquake that occurred in Junin. I express my most heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have passed away and my solidarity with those who have been affected.

President-elect Keiko Fujimori expressed deep regret over the earthquake's consequences, extending heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and solidarity to those affected. Luis Vasquez, head of the National Civil Defense Institute, confirmed the death toll and provided details on the displacement.

Many homes in the affected towns, such as Chupaca, are constructed with adobe mud bricks, making them particularly vulnerable to collapse during seismic activity. The region's location within the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to intense seismic activity, underscores the ongoing risk of such events.

“

The earthquake destroyed our home. Here there are many adobe houses that collapsed.