A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake shook the Piura region of northern Peru and a wide surrounding area Thursday, striking fear into the population, but with no immediate reports of casualties or damage, the National Earthquake Center reported.
The quake occurred at 03:26 am local time (08:26 am GMT).
The epicenter was 13 km west of Sullana, a coastal city in the Piura region, about 1,000 km north of Lima, and was 25 km deep, according to the center.
The Navy’s Hydrography and Navigation Directorate ruled out the possibility that the quake could trigger a tsunami, according to the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN).
“It was a very strong earthquake, but no damage was reported,” a resident of the town of Sullana told radio station RPP.
In several sectors of Sullana, on the border with Ecuador, people sleeping in their homes took to the streets as a precaution.
On July 30, 2021, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Sullana, injuring 40 people and damaging 200 homes and four churches.
#SismosColombiaSGC Evento Sísmico Internacional – Boletín Actualizado 1, 2022-10-05, 03:26 hora local. Magnitud 5.8, profundidad 48 km, Peru-Ecuador border region #NoticiaEnDesarrollo #Temblor #Sismo Más información: https://t.co/h4VVP0556L pic.twitter.com/4MbfhDCFJf
— Servicio Geológico Colombiano (@sgcol) October 5, 2022
The Piura coast is home to some of the country’s most popular resorts.
At least 400 perceptible earthquakes occur in Peru every year.
The country is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of strong earthquake activity on the west coast of the American continent.