The Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP) recorded seismic events in the Arequipa region on October 9 and 10, 2026. These events included a magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the morning and a magnitude 3.5 earthquake in the afternoon.
The first event occurred at 5:55:25 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.2. According to report IGP/CENSIS/RS 2026-0726, the epicenter was located 33 kilometers southeast of Aplao, in the province of Castilla. This was classified as an intermediate event due to its depth of 107 kilometers. The Regional Emergency Operations Center reported no material or personal damages, though risk management monitoring in the district continued.
Seismic Activity in Camaná
A second tremor was recorded at 1:14 p.m. with a magnitude of 3.5. The epicenter was located 5 kilometers east of Camaná, Arequipa, at a depth of 42 kilometers. The IGP reported that the movement reached an intensity of grade II on the Mercalli scale in Camaná. Local authorities reported no victims or material damages resulting from this phenomenon.
Regional Distribution of Sismos
The magnitude 4.2 event in Aplao marks the seventh earthquake centered in the Castilla province this year. This is lower than other provinces in the region, which has seen 108 total reported sismos. The distribution of epicenters in the region is as follows:
- Caravelí: 32 movements
- Camaná: 23 movements
- Caylloma: 17 movements
- Islay: 11 movements
In Castilla, other magnitude 4 events were previously recorded on February 2 in Chachas, August 24 in Choco, and October 5 in Aplao, where a magnitude 4.2 tremor was also reported.
Indeci Recommends Preparing Emergency Backpacks and Evacuation Routes
To mitigate risks, Indeci recommends that families identify safe zones, establish evacuation routes, and prepare emergency backpacks.
Peru Central Coast Could Face Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake
Sismologist César Jiménez Tintaya of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos warned that the central coast of Peru has accumulated seismic energy since a megaterremoto in 1746.
Jiménez Tintaya noted that partial energy was released during earthquakes of magnitude 8 to 8.1 in Huacho in 1940, Barranca in 1966, Chilca-Lima in 1974, and Pisco-Ica in 2007. He stated these events released only about 20% of the energy accumulated since 1746, adding that “it could occur a earthquake of magnitude 8.5 to 8.8 in the central region of Peru.”
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