A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the southern Andes Mountains in Peru.
According to Yonhap News and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred around 1 p.m. local time on August 20, approximately 38 kilometers northwest of the city of Upa Uachoc in Ayacucho region. The earthquake's depth was recorded at 66.7 kilometers.
The tremor was felt in several areas of southern Peru, including Ica and Arequipa, with weak vibrations reported in the capital, Lima, according to local news agency Andina.
Immediately following the earthquake, landslides were observed on the hills surrounding the town of Coracora in Ayacucho, which has a population of about 10,000.
Luis Vasquez, head of the Civil Defense Agency, stated in an interview with local radio station RPP, "As of now, no damage has been reported."
Peru, which is prone to seismic activity, experienced a major earthquake in Ica in 2007 that resulted in approximately 600 fatalities.
Recent earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher in Venezuela and Colombia have raised concerns about seismic risks along the Pacific coast of South America, with some experts warning that accumulated energy along Peru's central coast could lead to a significant earthquake measuring between 8.5 and 8.8 in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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