Magnitude 6.7 earthquake shakes Peru’s southern Andes, USGS says

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Peru’s southern Andes on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, sending tremors through the Ayacucho region shortly after 1 p.m. local time. The USGS said the quake occurred at 13:00 local time and was centered 38 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Upahuacho, in Parinacochas province.

According to the USGS, the earthquake’s magnitude was 6.7 and it was located within a mountainous part of Peru where communities are often spread across remote valleys. The agency’s location details placed the event in the Ayacucho region’s southern highlands.

The initial reporting from PBS NewsHour said the quake was felt as shaking in and around Peru’s southern Andes, reflecting the vulnerability of housing stock and infrastructure in seismic areas. While the USGS provided the quake’s time and location, the report did not describe confirmed casualties or major damage in the immediate aftermath.

Peru’s seismic risk is well established, and earthquakes of this size can create hazards such as landslides, rockfalls, and building damage, particularly for older structures built without modern seismic design standards. Emergency response typically depends on local conditions, road access, and communications in highland provinces.

The next phase after an event like Thursday’s quake generally involves regional and national assessments of affected districts, including checks on critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water systems, and power lines. Authorities also typically monitor for aftershocks, which can be disruptive for residents attempting to return to homes and schools.

PBS NewsHour reported the USGS parameters of the quake, including the timing and epicenter location, but did not provide additional details on specific districts affected, damage estimates, or whether Peru’s civil defense agencies had issued public guidance by the time of publication. Those elements are often updated as officials conduct field surveys and receive early reports from provincial authorities.

As Peru and regional governments continue assessments, residents and local officials will focus on verifying any damage, confirming the safety of buildings, and keeping track of potential secondary hazards in mountain terrain. The USGS location and magnitude information will remain central for scientists and emergency planners to refine aftershock expectations and hazard mapping.

Thursday’s quake also underscored the importance of preparedness and emergency coordination across Peru’s highland regions, where travel times to affected communities can be long and where communications can be difficult. Updates on damage, injuries, and recovery actions would typically follow once official regional reports are compiled and publicly released.