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July 20, 2026
Peru Earthquake: A powerful earthquake struck Peru's Andes region on Saturday night, leaving at least five people dead. Authorities confirmed the death toll on Sunday.
More than 20 people sustained injuries. Roughly 300 residents have been displaced from their homes.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the magnitude 5.5 quake at 9:24 p.m. Saturday. Its epicenter sat about 2 kilometers, or 1.24 miles, west-southwest of Sicaya, a city in Huancayo province.
The quake originated at a depth of 10 kilometers, or roughly 6.21 miles.
Peru's National Civil Defense Institute confirmed the casualties in an official statement. The agency said the number of missing residents remains unclear.
Several structures collapsed or sustained serious damage. A local church and convent were among the buildings affected.
Luis Vásquez, who heads the regional civil defense office, spoke with reporters about the extent of the damage.
He pointed to the widespread use of rustic adobe construction in the area. According to Vásquez, that building method worsened the quake's impact.
Peru sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone known for frequent seismic activity. Earthquakes are a regular occurrence across the country as a result.
Local media captured emotional scenes in Chongo Bajo, an agricultural region among the hardest hit.
Residents wrapped in blankets gathered outside homes that had suffered severe damage. Footage also showed animals trapped beneath the rubble.
Hermenegilda Guamalato was among those left homeless. She told a local radio station that her house had been destroyed.
Guamalato said she was searching for shelter for herself and her three children in Huayucachi, a neighboring province.
Peru has a history of destructive earthquakes. In 2007, a magnitude 7.9 quake struck Pisco province in the Ica region. That disaster killed nearly 600 people.
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