LIME.- A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.2 shook the Ayacucho region, in southern Peru, this Thursday and was felt in several areas of the country, including Lima, while authorities maintained monitoring of the areas near the epicenter.
The Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) reported that the earthquake was recorded at 1:00 p.m. local time, with the epicenter 35 kilometers north of Coracora, in the province of Parinacochas, and at a depth of 108 kilometers.
The intensity of the earthquake was estimated at levels III-IV in Coracora, although the movement was also felt in other regions of the country, including Ica, Apurímac, Moquegua, Arequipa and Lima.
Monitoring in affected areas
The National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) reported that local authorities and first response institutions activated monitoring in areas considered vulnerable to evaluate possible effects.
In the first official reports, no fatalities or significant material damage had been confirmed, while the collection of information from the towns near the epicenter continues.
The movement was perceived as strong in the districts of Coracora, Chumpi, Coronel Castañeda, Pacapausa, Pullo, Puyusca, San Francisco de Ravacayco and Upahuacho, in the province of Parinacochas, as well as in Nazca, in the Ica region.
It was also felt with moderate intensity in some areas of Ica and Pisco and lightly in sectors of Apurímac and Moquegua.
Tsunami risk ruled out
The Hydrography and Navigation Directorate of the Peruvian Navy ruled out that the earthquake generated a tsunami on the Peruvian coast, although it indicated that the event remains under surveillance.
The considerable depth of the movement contributed to the fact that the earthquake could be felt over a wide area of Peruvian territory, without its impact on the surface initially reaching levels comparable to those of a superficial earthquake.
Peru is located within the so-called Pacific Ring of Fireone of the areas with the greatest seismic and volcanic activity on the planet, where earthquakes are part of a constant threat to the populations settled both on the coast and in the Andean region.
