A strong earthquake struck southern Peru's Andes Mountains on Thursday at 1 p.m. local time. The United States Geological Survey reported the magnitude at 6.7, while Peru's Geophysics Institute estimated the figure at 7.2. The quake was centered 38 kilometers northwest of the city of Upahuacho, in the Parinacochas province of the Ayacucho region.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the earthquake injured three people and damaged at least 22 homes, six schools, and 12 medical centres. The tremors were also felt in Lima and several other parts of the country.
The event comes after Venezuela and Colombia were both hit by destructive quakes in recent weeks. This includes a massive temblor that struck Colombia 10 days prior, which killed more than 300 people.