A powerful 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Peru on Saturday night, resulting in at least five deaths and ten injuries. The seismic event was centered near the town of Chupaca in the Andean region of Junín, occurring at a depth of 24 kilometres. Shortly after the main tremor, a 3.7 magnitude aftershock occurred in the same vicinity, though authorities noted its intensity was significantly lower.
Emergency officials are currently conducting damage assessments across the region. The district of Chongos Bajo experienced the most severe impact, including the reported fatalities, though the victims have not yet been identified by authorities. In the regional capital of Huancayo, medical facilities sustained structural damage; the Daniel Alcides Carrión Hospital provided care for the injured, while the El Carmen Mother and Child Hospital reported cracks within its paediatric intensive care unit.
Cultural and historical sites also suffered during the quake, including damage to the Cani Cruz stone cross in Chongos Alto and sections of the old Santiago de León convent. While power outages were reported in multiple districts, the National Emergency Operations Committee (COEN) confirmed that the national highway network remained functional and unaffected.
Peru is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region responsible for approximately 85% of global earthquake activity. While seismic events of magnitude 5 or greater occur in the Chupaca area roughly every 13 years, smaller tremors are frequent throughout Junín. Officials maintain that while earthquakes cannot be predicted, seismic modeling remains a vital tool for identifying high-risk areas.
