Peru Earthquake Live Update: What began as an ordinary Saturday night in Peru’s central Andes quickly turned into a scene of destruction after a powerful earthquake struck the Junín region. The tremor claimed at least six lives, left more than 21 people injured and forced hundreds from their homes as buildings collapsed and emergency crews rushed into affected communities.
Authorities are continuing search and rescue operations while assessing the full extent of the damage across the mountainous region.
Peru Earthquake Today: Powerful Tremor Rocks Peru’s Junín Region Late at Night
The earthquake struck shortly after 9:20 p.m. local time on Saturday, with its epicentre near Chupaca in Peru’s Junín region, around 300 kilometres east of Lima. Peru’s National Seismological Centre recorded the main tremor at magnitude 5.1, followed by a 3.7-magnitude aftershock minutes later. Some international agencies initially estimated the first quake at a stronger magnitude of 5.5 to 5.6.
Emergency officials said residents felt moderate shaking across several districts, with the worst destruction reported in rural communities where many homes are built with adobe bricks that are highly vulnerable to earthquakes.
Peru Earthquake Live Update: Death Toll Rises as Homes Collapse
Authorities confirmed that six people died in the earthquake, while at least 21 others suffered injuries. Preliminary assessments showed that 48 homes collapsed and another 18 sustained damage, affecting around 300 residents who have been moved to temporary shelters.
Rescue workers continue clearing debris amid concerns that more victims could be trapped beneath damaged structures.
Peru Earthquake Live Update: Police, Firefighters and Soldiers Join Rescue Effort
The Peruvian government launched a large-scale emergency response soon after the earthquake. Hundreds of police officers, volunteer firefighters and army personnel were deployed to carry out rescue operations, assist displaced families and secure damaged areas.
President-elect Keiko Fujimori also expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and called for all available government resources to be mobilised to support the affected communities.
Peru Earthquake Live Update: Hospitals and Power Infrastructure Damaged
The Health Ministry said structural cracks appeared in the pediatric intensive care unit of the Regional Maternal and Children’s Hospital El Carmen. The Daniel Alcides Carrión National Hospital and the Chupuro Health Centre also reported damage following the quake.
The Energy and Mines Ministry said electricity service was gradually being restored after the earthquake knocked out power to more than 61,000 customers. By Sunday, the number of affected consumers had dropped to just over 400 as repair teams worked to reconnect damaged power lines.
Peru Earthquake Live Update: Peru Remains Highly Vulnerable to Earthquakes
Peru sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most active seismic zones, where nearly 85% of global earthquake activity occurs. The country experiences frequent earthquakes because of the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Pacific Ocean.
The latest disaster has revived memories of the devastating 7.9-magnitude Pisco earthquake in 2007, which killed nearly 600 people and caused widespread destruction across southern Peru.
