At least 6 people were killed and 21 citizens were injured as a result of two earthquakes in the Junin region of Peru. This was reported by the country's Civil Defense Institute.
The earthquakes occurred on the evening of July 19 in the province of Chupaca in the Junin region, approximately 300 kilometers east of the capital Lima.
According to Peru's National Seismology Center, the magnitude of the first earthquake was 5.1, and the second was 3.7. The tremors were recorded at depths of 24 and 18 kilometers. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center estimated the magnitude of the first earthquake at 5.6.
According to the head of Peru's National Civil Defense Institute, Luis Vasquez, preliminary data indicate that 48 houses were completely destroyed, and another 18 houses were damaged. The natural disaster affected approximately 300 residents.
Most of the houses in the affected settlements are built of adobe bricks. Rescue and fire safety services are currently clearing the rubble. It is reported that there may be more victims under the debris.
Tents are being allocated for temporary shelter for the affected population.
For reference, Peru is located in a seismically active region known as the "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Ocean. The majority of the world's earthquakes occur in this zone.
Earlier, it was reported that a 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred near the Pacific coast of Mexico.
