In brief
A powerful 6.7‑magnitude earthquake struck the Ayacucho region of Peru, damaging dozens of homes and schools and causing widespread power outages. Local leaders report damage to 22 homes, six schools, and 10 healthcare facilities, with 9,000 properties losing electricity. The tremor, felt as far as Lima, sees no serious injuries but highlights the fragility of infrastructure in a tectonically active country. Nearby Colombia and Venezuela have recently suffered even stronger quakes, underscoring a region-wide seismic threat.
A powerful 6.7‑Magnitude quake rattled the remote Ayacucho region of Peru on Thursday, shaking thousands of homes and schools in a region that sits on the clash of the Nazca and South American plates.
Officials say at least three people were injured, none with severe wounds, as 22 houses and six schools suffered damage. Twenty‑two homes and six schools were reported by Defence Minister Rafael Belaunde, with 9,000 properties losing electricity and nine schools damaged across the area.
The tremor, felt as far as Lima — some 300 miles away — left the National Institute of Civil Defence keeping health‑care services running, even as two facilities in nearby Cusco were also damaged.
Data from the United States Geological Survey places the quake at 13:00 local time and 62‑mile depth, while Peru’s own Geophysical Institute lists a magnitude of 7.2. The event follows a series of deadly quakes in Colombia and Venezuela, reminding the region that the Andes remains a hotspot for seismic danger.
