RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 shook southern Peru this Thursday, near the border with Bolivia, according to reports from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The seismic focus was located at a depth of 217.8 km and the epicenter was located 13.1 kilometers east-southeast of Azángaro, in the Puno region, and 30.3 kilometers west of Ayaviri, also in Puno, according to the USGS.
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For its part, the National Seismological Center of Peru reported on its Twitter account that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 240 km with a magnitude of 6.9. He located it 20 kilometers from Ayaviri.
Peru’s National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) tweeted that the earthquake was felt “between moderate and strong by the population,” and that at the moment no material or personal damage has been reported.
#COENInforma
Sismo de magnitud 6.9 con epicentro en Asillo, Azángaro – Puno fue sentido entre moderado y fuerte por la población. No se reportan daños al momento. Monitoreo continúa en zonas vulnerables. | @indeciperu pic.twitter.com/McyXZCAsOK— COEN – INDECI (@COENPeru) May 26, 2022
In a subsequent statement, the COEN reported that, according to local authorities, the earthquake was felt in the districts of Ayaviri, Asillo and Azángaro, and “was moderately felt in the districts of Orurillo, Pucará, Tirapata and San José, province of Melgar “.
The agency also added that vulnerable areas continue to be monitored.
On its own, the Geophysical Institute of Peru indicated that the earthquake was felt with an intensity of degree three to four in Ayaviri. In the cities of Puno and Juliaca, the tremor manifested itself with medium intensity.
The tremor was also felt in Arequipa, Cusco, Tacna, Moquegua and Apurímac, causing alarm in the population, according to the report of the state-owned Peruvian News Agency (Andina).
In Arequipa, the strong earthquake forced the population to leave their homes and workplaces. In addition, traffic was paralyzed, according to Andina.
In addition, the COEN also recommended “that, in the event of an earthquake, remain calm and avoid panic. Likewise, it is necessary to prepare a family evacuation plan and verify the exit routes; in the same way, safety zones must be located internal and external and have your emergency backpack at hand”.