LIMA — A powerful earthquake struck Peru's central Junín region, killing at least five people, injuring more than 20 and displacing around 300 residents, as emergency crews continued search and relief operations in some of the hardest-hit Andean communities, authorities said on Monday.
Peru's National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) said the earthquake caused widespread damage in Chupaca province, where dozens of adobe homes collapsed or were left uninhabitable. Officials said hundreds of people required temporary shelter after the tremor destroyed or severely damaged residential buildings.
The Peruvian Geophysical Institute measured the main earthquake at magnitude 5.1, while the U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude of 5.5 with a shallow depth near the city of Sicaya, west of Huancayo. The earthquake struck late Saturday evening and was followed by aftershocks, prompting residents to spend the night outdoors amid concerns over additional collapses.
Authorities said the worst destruction occurred in and around Chongos Bajo in Chupaca province, where traditional adobe construction contributed to extensive structural failures. In addition to homes, parts of historic religious buildings and local infrastructure sustained damage. Emergency personnel, firefighters and local authorities continued clearing debris and assessing affected areas.
Prime Minister Luis Arroyo visited the disaster zone on Sunday alongside senior government officials and announced that the government would declare the affected districts under a state of emergency to speed the delivery of assistance and mobilize additional resources. Officials said social programs and emergency aid would be expanded to support displaced families.
INDECI said casualty figures and damage assessments remained preliminary and could change as inspections continued across remote communities. Authorities had not reported the total number of missing people and urged residents to remain alert for aftershocks while engineers evaluated damaged structures.
Peru lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most seismically active regions, where frequent earthquakes result from the movement of tectonic plates. The latest earthquake renewed concerns over the vulnerability of rural communities where many homes are built from adobe, a material that performs poorly during strong seismic events.
