A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Peru on August 20, shaking buildings and knocking out power across the region. The US Geological Survey located the epicenter roughly 31 kilometers northwest of Aniso, in the southern highlands near the Andes.
Damage and response
Reports from the area described structural damage to homes and schools, with residents running into the streets when the tremor hit at 11:14 AM local time. Local authorities reported damaged buildings, power cuts and at least some casualties, as rescue crews began assessing remote mountain communities. The tremor was felt across several regions in the south, and aftershocks were expected in the following hours.
Context
Peru sits on the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, making powerful earthquakes a recurring hazard. The USGS and international agencies were coordinating with local authorities, with search-and-rescue teams deploying to the most affected zones. The event follows a pattern of seismic activity that has prompted repeated infrastructure-strengthening programs across the country.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
