Overview
- Two shallow earthquakes rattled Junín late Saturday night, with Peru’s seismological service reporting magnitudes of 5.1 and 3.7 while other agencies gave slightly different readings.
- Officials say at least five people were killed, more than 20 injured and about 300 residents displaced, but authorities caution those figures are preliminary and still being confirmed.
- Preliminary government surveys put roughly 48 homes destroyed and 18 damaged, with a church and a convent among the structures brought down in farming communities such as Chongo Bajo.
- More than 250 search, rescue and medical personnel from police, army, firefighters and K-9 units have been deployed to remove debris, search for missing people and set up tents and emergency aid.
- Peru’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and widespread use of non-reinforced adobe construction in the highlands help explain why moderate, shallow quakes produced severe local damage and urgent humanitarian needs.