Peru Earthquake Kills Six.

Casualties and Displaced Residents in Huancayo Province

Geological Survey (USGS) recorded at a magnitude of 5.5, struck at 9:24 p.m. local time on Saturday. The epicenter was located 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west-southwest of the city of Sicaya in Huancayo province at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). While some initial reports cited at least five deaths, the Reuters news agency and other sources confirmed the death toll reached six, citing the country’s civil defence chief.

In addition to the fatalities, figures regarding the injured vary by report. While some authorities cited 21 injuries, other reports indicated more than 20 people were injured. Approximately 300 residents have been displaced. The destruction is particularly acute in the agricultural region of Chongo Bajo, where images broadcast by local media captured the anguish of victims’ relatives. In that area, residents were seen huddled under blankets outside severely damaged homes, and animals were also observed under the rubble. Rescue workers are continuing to search for people who may still be trapped beneath the debris of collapsed structures.

Structural Vulnerability of Adobe Construction

The severity of the damage has been attributed largely to the prevalence of traditional building materials. Luis Vásquez, the leader of Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute, told journalists that the use of rustic adobe—mud bricks—in construction in that Andean area has contributed to the greater impact and damage.

The damage extends to historical and community buildings, including a local church and convent. In the town of Chupaca, located approximately 300 kilometres (186 miles) east of Lima, homes are often constructed with these adobe mud bricks and are noted as being prone to collapse. One resident of Chongos Bajo, whose home was destroyed, told the N television network: The earthquake destroyed our home. Here there are many adobe houses that collapsed. Another resident, Hermenegilda Guamalato, told a local radio station that she was seeking a place to stay with her three children in the neighbouring district of Huayucachi.

Conflicting Seismological Data

There is a discrepancy in how different international and local agencies characterized the seismic event. While the USGS reported a 5.5-magnitude quake, Peru’s National Seismological Center stated that two quakes, measuring 5.1 and 3.7, hit the Junin region. The National Seismological Center further specified that the first quake struck at a depth of 24 km (15 miles) and the second at 18 km. Additionally, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre previously estimated that the first quake had a magnitude of 5.6.

Regardless of the specific measurement, the region remains seismically active as part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a volcanic zone that accounts for about 85 percent of the world’s seismic activity.

Political and Social Response

President-elect Keiko Fujimori addressed the disaster on Sunday via a social media post, acknowledging the loss of life in the Junin region. She stated: I deeply regret the consequences of the earthquake that occurred in Junin. She further noted: I express my most heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have passed away and my solidarity with those who have been affected.

The current disaster has drawn comparisons to the 2007 earthquake in the province of Pisco in the Ica region, a 7.9-magnitude event that resulted in nearly 600 deaths. As authorities continue to monitor the situation, Peru’s National Civil Defence Institute has stated that the total number of missing people is still unknown. The government is currently working to provide tents to the approximately 300 people displaced by the tremors.