Peru Earthquake: 5.5 Magnitude Tremor Kills 6 In Andes Region, Leaves Over 300 Displaced

Lima: A powerful 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck Peru's Andes region, killing at least 6 people, injuring over 30 and damaging homes, leaving hundreds displaced in the mountain region. According to the local administration, the tremor was felt across parts of the central highlands, triggering landslides and power outages in remote villages. The emergency teams were immediately deployed to assess damage and search for survivors, while the local officials warned of aftershocks in the coming hours.

According to reports, the strong tremor rattled the central Andes of Peru late on Saturday, leaving at least 6 people dead and dozens more hurt in one of the region’s most populated highland provinces.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck at 9.24 pm local time, with the epicentre just 2 km, west-southwest of Sicaya in Huancayo province. As per information, it was shallow, occurring at a depth of 10 km, which amplified the shaking in nearby towns and villages.

Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute (NCDI) confirmed on Sunday that over 30 people had been injured and around 300 forced from their homes. The agency added that the number of people still missing remains unknown as rescue teams continue to assess remote communities.

Damage Across Huancayo Province

The local administration asserted that several buildings were brought down or badly damaged in the earthquake. Among the structures hit were the local church and a convent, both landmarks for residents in the affected area.

The agricultural district of Chongo Bajo bore the brunt of the impact, with the television footage broadcast by local stations showing families gathered outside cracked and collapsed homes, wrapped in blankets against the cold mountain night. The locals wept as they searched for relatives, while in the background animals could be seen trapped beneath piles of rubble and fallen walls.

The civil defence teams have been moving door to door to check for survivors and to deliver aid, with the administration saying that water, food and temporary shelter were being sent to displaced families, many of whom are now sleeping in open areas or community halls.

Shallow Earthquake Felt In The Andes

The USGS reported the earthquake was shallow enough to cause heavy ground motion despite the moderate magnitude, and since it struck at night, many people were inside their homes when the shaking began, contributing to the number of casualties and the scale of damage.

Peru’s civil defence body stated that the assessments were ongoing and that more figures on the injured, missing and displaced could emerge as communications are restored to cut-off villages in the mountains.

The institute did not give a timeline for recovery work, but noted that emergency crews from Huancayo and surrounding provinces had been deployed.

Region Prone To Tremors

The experts suggested that Peru sits on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, where the Nazca and South American tectonic plates meet, making earthquakes a regular threat.

The country still remembers the devastation of 2007, when a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the province of Pisco in the Ica region and killed nearly 600 people. The disaster prompted stronger building codes in some cities, but many rural areas in the Andes continue to rely on adobe and brick homes that are vulnerable to collapse.

The Peruvian officials said that Sunday’s earthquake was far smaller, but the proximity to populated towns meant the impact was deadly. The volunteers and neighbours have joined emergency workers to clear debris and check on elderly residents. Further details regarding the deadly earthquake are awaited.