5.5 magnitude earthquake in Peru leaves at least five dead and dozens injured

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake has rocked Peru’s Andres region, killing at least five and injuring over 20 people.The tremor struck at 9:24 p.m. local time and has already displaced 300 residents.The U.S. Geological Survey placed its epicenter 1.24 miles west-southwest of Sicaya, Huancayo province, at a shallow 6.21 miles. Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute said the number of missing remains unknown.The quake caused widespread destruction, with buildings, including the local church and convent, collapsing or suffering severe damage. Local media images showed the anguish of relatives in Chongo Bajo, an agricultural area among the hardest hit. Residents huddled under blankets outside damaged homes and animals were seen trapped under rubble.A motor tricycle is stuck amid the debris of homes that collapsed after an earthquake struck Pumpuya, Peru, Sunday, July 19, 2026 (AP Photo/Jhefry Sedano)Luis Vásquez, head of the local civil defense office, told journalists that the use of rustic adobe materials in construction in that Andean area “has contributed to the greater impact and damage."Earthquakes are frequent in Peru, which is located in the Pacific "Ring of Fire." A 7.9 magnitude quake in 2007 devastated Pisco province, killing nearly 600.Saturday’s earthquake in Peru comes after Venezuela was hit by back-to-back earthquakes late last month.The death toll from the powerful 7.2 and 7.5 quakes that struck on June 24 stood at 5,069 as of late Friday.Venezuela's government says 856 buildings are damaged and 190 collapsed completely. Hundreds of other types of structures, such as bridges and roads, were also affected.