At least five people have been killed and 21 others injured after a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck Peru’s Andes region, causing widespread damage and leaving hundreds homeless.
According to AFP, as published by Channels Television, the earthquake hit late Saturday near the town of Chongos Bajo, about 300 kilometres east of Lima. The Peruvian Geophysics Institute said the tremor originated at a shallow depth of 24 kilometres.
A resident told N television that many homes collapsed during the quake, saying the destruction was severe because numerous buildings in the area were constructed with adobe or quincha, a traditional blend of wood, cane and mud.
General Luis Vasquez, director of Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute, said 48 houses were destroyed, forcing around 300 people from their homes.
The shallow depth of the earthquake contributed to the extensive damage, particularly in communities with vulnerable housing structures.
Peru lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active zones. The South American nation records at least 400 earthquakes every year, although most are too weak to be felt.
