Powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes northern Peru’s Amazon rainforest: 75 home are destroyed and shaking is felt 1,000 miles away in Lima
- The quake was felt throughout central and northern Peru. Some residents left their homes as a precaution, according to local radio and television reports
- Falling stones blocked several highways in the Amazonas and Cajamarca regions in Peru, and the tremor was felt nearly 500 miles away in the capital of Lima
- Part of a 16th century church in La Jalca district in the Amazon region collapsed and three people were lightly injured
- The National Institute of Civil Defense said in a statement that 220 homes were affected, 81 uninhabitable and 75 destroyed
- Four people were injured, but there have not been reports of any deaths
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 struck northern Peru early Sunday, damaging at least 75 homes and blocking several roads with rubble.
The quake was felt throughout central and northern Peru, with residents of Lima – around 1,000 miles from the epicenter – also picking up the tremor. Some residents left their homes as a precaution, according to local radio and television reports.
While the quake was extremely strong, it was relatively deep – measured at 70 miles – which usually reduces the possibility of damage and casualties.
Four people were injured as a result of the natural event, although there have not been reports of any deaths.
Falling stones blocked several highways in the Amazonas and Cajamarca regions in Peru, and the tremor was felt nearly 500 miles away in the capital of Lima, where some people rushed out of their homes in alarm.
The quake occurred at 5:52 a.m. and its epicenter was in the Amazon region, 26 miles north northwest of the city of Barranca. It had a magnitude of 7.5, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Part of a 16th century church in La Jalca district in the Amazon region collapsed and three people were lightly injured, Mayor Walter Culqui told Peru’s RPP radio.
In this grab taken from video a view of debris on a street after an earthquake, in Bagua, Peru, Sunday
In this grab taken from video a view of a destroyed house after an earthquake
The U.S. Geological Survey says a strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 has struck in northern Peru.
Peruvian President Pedro Castillo visited the area most affected on Sunday
A view of debris on the street in Bagua
Damages are seen after the earthquake was felt in the town of Moyobamba
The National Institute of Civil Defense said in a statement that 220 homes were affected, 81 uninhabitable and 75 destroyed. Seven places of religious worship and two shopping centers were among damaged facilities, Indeci said, adding that four residents were injured.
A church in the Loja municipality in neighboring Ecuador was also partly damaged. The tremor was also felt in parts of Colombia and Brazil.
Earthquakes are common in Peru, which falls within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 85 percent of the planet´s seismic activity takes place.
President Pedro Castillo said through Twitter that he ordered the immediate deployment of support personnel and took a trip in a military plane to the area.
‘We will support those affected and address material damage,’ he said.
Walter Culqui, mayor of the town of Jalca Grande in Chachapoyas province, said several houses had been damaged, leaving three non-serious injuries. Part of the church tower in the area collapsed, he said.
A man is seen next to the remains of a house destroyed by an earthquake in the department of Amazonas
President Castillo helps a man out of the remains
A girl walks next to the remains of a house destroyed by the earthquake
Earthquakes are common in Peru, which falls within the Pacific Ring of Fire
President Castillo said through Twitter that he ordered the immediate deployment of support personnel and took a trip in a military plane to the area
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