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5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Peru, Killing at Least Six
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Peru's Andes region on July 18 at 9:24 p.m. local time, killing at least six people, injuring more than 30 and displacing 300. The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter 2 km west-southwest of Sicaya in Huancayo province at a depth of 10 km.
Jul 19, 10:58 AM·1m read7 sources
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A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Andes region of Peru on July 18 at 9:24 p.m. local time, killing at least six people, injuring more than 30 others and displacing 300 residents. Several buildings collapsed or sustained structural damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter 2 km west-southwest of Sicaya in Huancayo province at a depth of 10 km. Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute said the total number of missing remains unknown.
The Santiago de León church and former convent in Chongos Bajo, built in 1565 and designated a national heritage site, suffered structural damage. Luis Vásquez, head of the local civil defense office, said the use of rustic adobe materials in construction contributed to greater impact and damage in the Andean area.
Hermenegilda Guamalato told a local radio station that her home had been destroyed and that she was seeking shelter with her three children in the neighboring province of Huayucachi.
Earthquakes occur frequently in Peru because the country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire. A magnitude 7.9 quake struck Pisco province in 2007 and killed nearly 600 people.
