A magnitude 7 earthquake shakes southern Peru
The epicenter of the earthquake is located in the region of Arequipa, the second most populated city in the country. At the moment, there are no deaths.
An magnitude 7 earthquake shook southern Peru early this Friday, with its epicenter in the region of Arequipa, whose capital is the second most populated city in the country.
As reported by the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), the tectonic movement occurred at a depth of 42 kilometers and with an epicenter 54 kilometers southwest of the coastal district of Yauca, where last Saturday it had already produced two earthquakes of magnitude 5.7 and 5.
The earthquake had an intensity VI on the Mercalli scale, which means that it was perceived as “strong” by the inhabitants of the area. The tectonic movement was also felt in Lima, the capital, where a third of the Peruvian population lives.
Tsunami threat ruled out
The Prime Minister of Peru, Gustavo Adrianzén, has reported that the magnitude 7 earthquake that occurred after midnight this Friday in the south of his country has caused material damage although, so far, no fatalities have been reported.
“Thank God, until this hour we have no recorded fatalities,” Adrianzén told the RPP radio station before adding that the tsunami alert that was launched after the strong earthquake has also been called off. The prime minister has insisted on maintaining “calm and tranquility”, and has asked the population to comply with security measures despite having ruled out a tsunami, since it is possible that an anomalous wave could occur on the coast.
After the earthquake that occurred at 0:36 a.m. (local time) off the coastal district of Yauca, two other earthquakes of 4.0 and 4.2 have been reported in the same area.
Region with more than 80% of the world's seismic activity
Peru is located in a region known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, where more than 80% of the world’s seismic activity occurs. The last devastating earthquake in the country occurred off the coastal city of Pisco in August 2007, when a magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit that town and the entire southern region of Ica, with a total of more than 500 deaths, as well as multi-million-dollar losses in infrastructure and homes.