A 5.8 magnitude earth quake struck the Pacific region of southern Peru late Tuesday, injuring at least 27 people and damaging buildings in the country’s south.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was 20 kilometers, or 12.4 miles, east-southeast of Pampa de Tate in the Ica region, at a depth of 56.5 kilometers, about 35 miles. No deaths were reported.
Peruvian Defense Minister Amadeo Flores traveled to the city of Ica on Tuesday and visited damaged buildings, including San Luis Gonzaga University, as authorities assessed the impact. The visit underscored how quickly the quake moved from a brief jolt into a local emergency for the southern region.
Peru is no stranger to earthquakes. The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a stretch of seismic activity that makes strong tremors a regular risk, especially along its coast and in the south. That geography is why a magnitude 5.8 quake can still leave injuries and structural damage even when it does not cause deaths.
What happens next is less about the tremor itself than the inspection it set in motion. Damage assessments in Ica will determine how many buildings can be used and how many people will need help getting back inside.
