Six Killed and Hundreds Displaced After Earthquake Strikes Central Peru

At least six people have been killed and about 300 others displaced after two earthquakes struck Peru’s Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and forcing residents to seek temporary shelter, authorities said.

The strongest earthquake, initially measured at magnitude 5.6 by the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), struck Chupaca province in central Peru late on Saturday, July 19. Peru’s National Seismological Centre later recorded the main tremor at magnitude 5.1, followed by a second earthquake measuring 3.7. Both quakes occurred at relatively shallow depths, intensifying the impact on nearby communities.

Emergency officials said 21 people were injured, while 48 homes were destroyed and 18 others sustained damage. The worst affected communities are located about 300 kilometres east of Lima, where many homes are built with adobe bricks, a traditional construction material that is highly vulnerable to earthquake damage. Approximately 300 residents have been displaced and are being accommodated in temporary shelters as emergency teams continue damage assessments.

Firefighters, police and civil defence personnel were deployed to the affected areas shortly after the earthquakes to clear debris, assist survivors and search for anyone who may still be trapped beneath collapsed structures. Authorities said emergency response operations remain ongoing as engineers inspect damaged buildings for safety.

Peru’s government has pledged assistance to affected communities, including emergency shelter, food supplies and medical support. Local authorities have urged residents to remain alert for aftershocks and to avoid entering buildings that may have been structurally weakened by the earthquakes.

Peru is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions, where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate. The country experiences hundreds of earthquakes each year, ranging from minor tremors to major seismic events capable of causing widespread destruction.