Peru earthquake: 6 dead, dozens injured as 5.1 quake hits central region

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck central Peru late Saturday, killing at least six people and injuring more than 30 others, officials reported Sunday. A 3.7-magnitude aftershock followed 17 minutes later. The quake hit the province of Chupaca in the Junín region, located in the country's central highlands. Peru's National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci) confirmed six fatalities and over 300 people displaced. The agency's chief, Luis Vásquez, said the shallow depth of the quake, combined with many homes built from adobe and quincha—traditional materials of mud and cane—caused severe damage across several towns. Deputy Health Minister Henry Rebaza told local media that 26 injured people have been discharged from hospitals, while six remain hospitalized. He added that these numbers are preliminary and that "numerous structures have been affected." The government has sent officials to the region to oversee the response and assess whether to declare a state of emergency in the hardest-hit areas. Indeci urged residents to remain calm and follow official safety instructions. Rebaza said around 100 medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and local responders, are already in Chupaca, with more specialized personnel and a mobile hospital being deployed. Indeci's report noted damage to homes, health facilities, power lines, and tourist infrastructure in the district of Chongos Bajo. The epicenter of the first quake was located seven kilometers south of Chongos Bajo at a depth of 24 kilometers. The aftershock struck 14 kilometers south of the same town at a depth of 18 kilometers. Most of the deaths occurred in Chongos Bajo. Injured victims were treated at the Daniel Alcides Carrión National Hospital in Huancayo, which also sustained damage to its facilities.