A huge 5.5-magnitude earthquake has hit Peru, killing at least five people and injuring 11 more. The tremor struck two kilometres west-southwest of Sicaya, at a depth of around 10 kilometres, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre recorded the tremor as magnitude 5.6.
The quake, which hit the country at 2.24am UTC, was felt in particular in the Chupaca province in Junin. Several buildings collapsed, crushing animals, including cattle, to death, harrowing footage from the scene shows.
Local government reported the tremor was felt in the districts of Chupaca, Ahuac, Chongos Bajo, Huachac, Huamancaca Chico, San Juan de Yscos, San Juan de Jarpa, Tres de Diciembre and Yanacancha.
And a map from the USGS suggests the tremor was felt less strongly as far as Lima, the country’s capital.
After the first strong tremor, three aftershocks were recorded, local news outlet Peru21 reports.
Alongside the loss of life and severe structural damage, the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that power outages occurred in various areas of the districts of Sapallanga, Chilca, Chongos Bajo, Cullhuas, Acostambo, Pazos and Huaribamba.
Pictures from the scene show locals who fled from their homes standing or sitting among the rubble, wrapped up in blankets as temperatures overnight plunged to 4C.
The figure has continued to increase as rescue workers clear debris and search through rubble.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the disaster as the “most brutal natural catastrophe” in the history of her country.
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