Powerful 6.7 earthquake shakes southern Peru
A powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck southern Peru on Thursday afternoon, triggering alarms across multiple regions, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Anadolu reported.
The Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), meanwhile, reported a magnitude of 7.2.
The tremor occurred at 1 pm local time (1800 GMT) at an intermediate depth of 108 kilometers (67 miles). According to the IGP's National Seismological Center (CENSIS), the epicenter was located roughly 35 kilometers north of Coracora, in the province of Parinacochas within the department of Ayacucho.
Despite the high magnitude, Peruvian authorities and disaster risk agencies reported no immediate casualties or severe structural damage.
Se pudrió todo en Perú🇵🇪
— Mati Smith🇦🇷 (@Trumperizar) August 20, 2026
Un potente terremoto de magnitud 7.2 acaba de sacudir la región de Ayacucho al sur del país.
Que mierda esta pasando en el mundo pic.twitter.com/HxDdJIETsV
Um terremoto de magnitude 7,2 foi registrado na tarde desta quinta-feira, a 35 quilômetros ao norte do distrito de Coracora, no sul do Peru, informou o Instituto Geofísico do Peru.
— Julio Schneider 🇧🇷🇺🇸 (@juliovschneider) August 21, 2026
Segundo o relatório, o terremoto ocorreu a uma profundidade de 108 quilômetros. pic.twitter.com/gIdlVOl0nc
🔴🔴REPORTES | Así fue captado el potente terremoto que sacudió hoy a Perú, sin dejar víctimas hasta el momento: el primer reporte indicaba una magnitud 7.2, aunque más tarde fue rebajado a 6.7.
— Jean Suriel (@JeanSuriel) August 20, 2026
⚠️El sismo sacudió la zona sur andina peruana, localizándose a 35 kilómetros al… pic.twitter.com/hNHw0EDWrr
Geophysicists said the depth of 108 kilometers helped absorb much of the seismic energy before reaching the surface, resulting in a Mercalli intensity rating of III-IV ("light to moderate shaking") near the epicenter.
The earthquake was felt clearly across southern and central Peru, with shaking reported by residents as far as the capital city of Lima.
Earlier, it was reported that a magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit China.
