A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Peru on Sunday, resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to 36 others, according to local authorities.
The tremor unleashed landslides and caused widespread disruption across Lima and surrounding areas.
The National Seismological Centre stated that the quake occurred just before midday and was centred approximately 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the coastal port city of Callao, near the capital, Lima.
However, the US Geological Survey assessed the quake at a slightly lower magnitude of 5.6.
Despite the intensity of the tremor, officials confirmed that it did not trigger any tsunami alerts.
“There was no tsunami warning for the South American country’s Pacific coastline,” President Dina Boluarte reassured in a statement, urging citizens to remain calm.
The only fatality reported was in Lima, where a man lost his life after a wall collapsed onto his vehicle, the National Police said.
Emergency Operations Centre also confirmed that 36 people sustained injuries, all in the capital region.
Television network Latina aired dramatic footage showing landslides occurring in different parts of Lima following the quake.
The tremor also brought daily life to a standstill in some areas, with a major football match being suspended and the city’s subway system temporarily shut down.
Peru, a nation of 34 million people, sits atop the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region notorious for frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
The country experiences more than 100 detectable earthquakes each year.
In 2021, the Amazon region of Peru was hit by a 7.5-magnitude quake that injured a dozen people and destroyed over 70 homes.
One of the deadliest earthquakes in the nation’s history occurred in 1970 in the northern Ancash region, claiming approximately 67,000 lives.
