Deadly Peru Quakes
Powerful Earthquakes in Peru's Junín Kill Five, Injure Dozens, Destroy Homes
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Key Points
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Authorities reported 48 homes destroyed and 18 damaged in the Chupaca region, with about 300 residents displaced.
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Cultural heritage sites sustained damage, including the collapse of the historic Cani Cruz monument in Chongos Bajo and the 500-year-old stone cross, with other structures such as the Antiguo Convento de also showing significant failures.
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Casualties included a range of ages, with reports identifying victims aged 18, 68, 72, and 73, along with a 17-year-old adolescent.
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Regional authorities began distributing humanitarian supplies, including tents, blankets and food rations, and displaced residents sought shelter in local centers such as Plaza de Armas and sports complexes.
Two earthquakes struck Peru's Junín region late Saturday night, killing at least five people and injuring 21 others. The first quake measured magnitude 5.1 and hit near Chupaca district at 9:24 p.m., followed by a 3.7 aftershock roughly 17 minutes later, according to Yahoo News.
The disaster destroyed 48 homes and damaged 18 more, displacing about 300 residents, San Luis Obispo Tribune reported. Rescue teams from the army, police, and fire departments searched rubble for survivors as authorities rushed emergency supplies to affected communities.
Adobe Homes Crumble as Hundreds Lose Shelter
The hardest-hit communities sit high in the Andes mountains, where many families live in adobe homes. Adobe is a traditional building material made from mud and straw. These structures are extremely vulnerable to shaking. Dozens collapsed within seconds of the first tremor.
About 300 displaced residents sought shelter in local gathering spots, including the Plaza de Armas and nearby sports complexes. Regional authorities distributed tents, blankets, and food rations to those who lost their homes, San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.
Five Dead Across a Spread of Ages, Search Ongoing
Victims ranged widely in age. Authorities identified casualties aged 17, 18, 68, 72, and 73. The New York Times reported six deaths in total, including damage to a 16th-century church in Chongos Bajos. The civil defense chief confirmed at least five killed and 21 injured, per San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Rescue teams continued searching debris for anyone still trapped. Authorities feared the death toll could rise. The epicenter was located just 2 kilometers west of Sicaya, in central Peru's highlands, according to Fox News.
Historic Monuments Collapse in Chongos Bajo
The quakes damaged more than homes. The Cani Cruz monument in Chongos Bajo — a stone cross estimated to be 500 years old — collapsed entirely. The Antiguo Convento de also suffered significant structural failures, The New York Times reported.
A 16th-century church in Chongos Bajos also sustained heavy damage. Cultural heritage officials have not yet assessed the full extent of losses. Restoring these sites will likely take years and significant resources.
Peru's Seismic Risk Along the Pacific Ring of Fire
Peru sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of intense volcanic and earthquake activity that circles the Pacific Ocean. The country experiences frequent tremors. Saturday's quake was centered about 24 kilometers deep, with the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre initially recording a higher magnitude of 5.6 before revisions.
Magnitude estimates varied across agencies. WPTV reported a 5.5 reading, while San Luis Obispo Tribune cited figures of 5.1 and 3.7 for the two quakes. Regardless of the exact number, the destruction made clear that mountain communities in Junín remain dangerously exposed to seismic events.
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