At Least Five Dead, Hundreds Displaced As 5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Peru

At least five people have been confirmed dead, over 20 others injured, and hundreds left homeless after a powerful earthquake struck central Peru over the weekend.

According to emergency authorities, the 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday night near the city of Sicaya in the Andes region, causing severe damage to several communities.

The tremor caused the partial collapse of multiple structures, including a church and a convent, while several residential homes in surrounding farming villages were destroyed. Emergency response teams spent the night searching through affected neighborhoods for survivors.

Peru’s National Civil Defence Institute reported that at least 300 residents have been displaced from their homes, while officials continue to search for missing persons.

Peru is located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.