A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hits southern Peru; authorities report 3 minor injuries

(Central News Agency, Lima, comprehensive foreign news reports on the 20th) The U.S. Geological Survey said that a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 occurred in southern Peru today. According to preliminary reports, authorities reported that three people suffered minor injuries.

Agence France-Presse reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 40 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho and nearly 800 kilometers from the capital Lima. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 1 p.m. local time at a depth of 99 kilometers.

Before the earthquake in Peru, two major earthquakes had occurred in Latin America since June: On June 24, twin earthquakes occurred in Venezuela, killing more than 6,400 people; last week, a strong earthquake occurred in Colombia, killing nearly 300 people.

In Peru, preliminary reports found that at least 22 homes, six schools and 12 medical centers were affected by the earthquake, and officials continued to assess the damage.

The Geophysical Institute of Peru measured the magnitude at 7.2 and said the earthquake's focal depth was 108 kilometers. Emergency rescue teams have been deployed to the Andean towns of Puquio and Coracora.

Footage broadcast by Peruvian media showed rocks and soil pouring down from the hills around the town of Cola Cola in the Ayacucho region, which is the closest to the epicenter and has a population of about 10,000.

"The people responded very quickly. Everyone has evacuated and taken shelter," town mayor Yony Odon said in a telephone interview with state television. He said he hoped there would be no major damage.

Peru's National Institute of Civil Defense wrote on the social platform X: "The moderate to strong earthquake was felt in many provinces."