6 dead, 21 injured after twin earthquakes in Peru; hundreds displaced

Twin earthquakes shook Peru's central Junin region late Saturday, leaving at least six people dead, 21 injured and hundreds displaced as emergency teams rushed to the affected mountain communities.According to Peru's National Seismological Center, the earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 5.1 and 3.7, struck on Saturday night (local time) about 300 kilometres east of the capital, Lima. The first quake hit at a depth of 24 kilometres, followed by a second tremor at a depth of 18 kilometres. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre earlier estimated the first earthquake at magnitude 5.6.DOZENS OF HOMES DESTROYEDLuis Vasquez, head of Peru's National Civil Defense Institute, said preliminary assessments showed that around 48 homes were destroyed and another 18 were damaged. Nearly 300 people have been affected, with authorities providing emergency shelters and tents.Most homes in the affected communities are simple adobe structures, making them particularly vulnerable to strong ground shaking. Emergency responders and firefighters reached the area early on Sunday to clear debris as search efforts continued amid fears that more people could still be trapped beneath collapsed buildings.WHY PERU FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCES EARTHQUAKESPeru is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries because it sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast belt of seismic and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Ocean and accounts for nearly 85 per cent of the world's earthquakes. The country's seismic activity is primarily driven by the Nazca tectonic plate slowly sliding beneath the South American plate in a process known as subduction. The constant movement of these massive plates builds up stress over time, which is released as earthquakes.Because of its location, Peru regularly experiences tremors ranging from minor quakes to powerful earthquakes capable of causing widespread damage and loss of life.- EndsWith inputs from agenciesPublished By: Satyam SinghPublished On: Jul 20, 2026 01:01 IST