A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted the Andean region of Ayacucho in south-central Peru on Sunday afternoon.
Peru's Geophysical Institute, or IGP, said the tremor struck about 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) of the Coracora city, in Ayacucho's Lucanas province, at 18:21 local time (23:21 GMT).
The state-run agency said the 6.6-magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 108 kilometers (67.1 miles).
IGP's report noted it was measured by a magnitude of V-VI on the Modified Mercalli scale in Coracora and in the adjoining city of Puquio, while the tremor was also felt in the nation's capital Lima with a II-III intensity.
Sunday's quake was also felt in neighboring southern regions, including Cusco, Huancavelica, Moquegua and Arequipa.
According to Civil Defense authorities, there have been no reports of damage to buildings or injuries so far from the quake.
Peru lies in the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, which is the site of 85 percent of global seismic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates.
(END) LOG/LOG
Published: 8/24/2014