A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Peru's Andes region on Saturday, killing at least five people, injuring more than 20, and displacing 300, according to authorities. The US Geological Survey reported the quake hit at 9:24 p.m., with its epicenter 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west-southwest of Sicaya in Huancayo province at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
Building Collapses and Damage
Peru's National Civil Defence Institute stated that the number of missing persons remains unknown. Several buildings collapsed or suffered structural damage, including the local church and convent. The use of rustic adobe materials in construction in the Andean area "has contributed to the greater impact and damage," said Luis Vásquez, head of the local civil defence office.
Impact on Communities
Local media images showed the anguish of victims' relatives in the agricultural region of Chongo Bajo, where residents huddled under blankets outside severely damaged homes. Animals were also seen under the rubble. "My home has been destroyed," Hermenegilda Guamalato told a local radio station as she sought shelter for herself and her three children in the neighboring district of Huayucachi.
Regional Context
Earthquakes are frequent in Peru, which lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire." In 2007, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the province of Pisco in the Ica region, killing nearly 600 people.
