Magnitude 5.1 earthquake in central Peru kills at least one, injures ten
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck central Peru on Saturday night, killing at least one person and injuring ten others. The epicenter was near the town of Chupaca in the Junín region of the Andes.
Earthquake and Damage
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit central Peru late Saturday, with its epicenter 24 kilometers deep near Chupaca in the Andean Junín region. A magnitude 3.7 aftershock followed 17 minutes later, much weaker than the main quake.
At least one person died and ten were injured. The worst damage was in the Chongos Bajo district, where the fatality occurred, though authorities have not yet identified the victim.
In the regional capital Huancayo, two hospitals were damaged: the Daniel Alcides Carrión Hospital, which treated the injured, and the El Carmen Mother and Child Hospital, where cracks appeared in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Several historic landmarks were also damaged, including the Cani Cruz stone cross in Chongos Alto and parts of the old Santiago de León convent. Power outages affected several districts.
According to initial assessments by the National Emergency Operations Committee (COEN), roads in the national highway network were not affected.
Seismic Context
Peru lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most seismically active zones, where about 85% of global earthquakes occur. Authorities say quakes of magnitude 5 or higher strike the Chupaca area roughly every 13 years, while smaller tremors are far more common across Junín. Although earthquakes cannot be predicted, seismic models help identify the areas most at risk.
