A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Peru on Saturday night, resulting in at least five deaths and ten injuries. The tremor, which originated at a depth of 24 kilometres, had its epicentre located near the town of Chupaca in the Andean region of Junín. A magnitude 3.7 aftershock followed seventeen minutes later, though authorities noted its intensity was significantly weaker than the initial quake, which was felt moderately within Chupaca.
Emergency officials are currently working to assess the full extent of the damage. The district of Chongos Bajo experienced the most severe impact, including the location where the fatalities occurred; however, the identities of the victims have not yet been released. In the regional capital of Huancayo, medical facilities sustained structural damage. This includes the Daniel Alcides Carrión Hospital, where the injured were treated, and the El Carmen Mother and Child Hospital, which suffered cracks in its paediatric intensive care unit.
Several historic sites were also impacted by the seismic activity, such as the Cani Cruz stone cross in Chongos Alto and sections of the old Santiago de León convent. Additionally, power outages were reported across several districts. Despite the damage, the National Emergency Operations Committee (COEN) reported that the national highway network remains unaffected.
Peru is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region that accounts for approximately 85% of the world's earthquakes. While seismic models assist officials in identifying high-risk zones, earthquakes cannot be predicted. Local authorities noted that tremors of magnitude 5 or higher typically occur in the Chupaca area roughly every 13 years, with smaller seismic events being a frequent occurrence throughout the Junín region.
