Peru Earthquake Hits Ayacucho: Buildings Injured, Power Cut Off

On Thursday afternoon, a deep‑based earthquake shook the remote Andean region of Ayacucho, Peru, near the settlement of Aniso. The quake registered a 6.7 magnitude on the US Geological Survey scale, with the depth recorded at 62 miles (100 km). Peruvian officials said 22 homes and six schools took a beating, and the tremors caused injuries to three people—none reportedly serious.

Rapid assessments by the National Institute of Civil Defence highlighted that 10 medical facilities in Ayacucho and two in the adjoining Cusco province suffered damage, yet critical services remained up and running. The power grid was crippled in roughly 9,000 properties, while about nine educational institutions reported structural damage.

Tremors rippled across the country, felt in Lima—about 300 miles away—demonstrating the reach of this seismic event. The Geophysical Institute of Peru logged the earthquake at a slightly higher magnitude of 7.2, underlining the ongoing seismic risk where the Nazca and South American tectonic plates converge. In the broader South American context, recent weeks have seen deadly quakes in Colombia and Venezuela, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to powerful seismic shocks.

The government’s emergency response team is coordinating relief and infrastructure assessment, aiming to restore power and repair damages promptly. While no fatalities were reported from this latest quake, authorities urge residents in the affected zones to prepare for potential after‑shocks.