LIMA, Peru — On Sunday, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the central coast of Peru, causing tremors that were felt in Lima and the nearby port city of Callao. The seismic event resulted in one fatality and left five others injured, according to officials.
Occurring at 11:35 a.m. local time, the earthquake’s epicenter was identified in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 23 kilometers (14 miles) southwest of Callao and westward of Lima, as reported by the United States Geological Survey.
The head of a 36-year-old man, who was standing beside his vehicle awaiting a passenger in northern Lima, was fatally injured when the wall from the fourth floor of an under-construction building gave way and struck him, Police Col. Ramiro Clauco informed through RPP radio.
The Emergency Operations Center has confirmed that the five injured individuals are currently receiving medical attention in various hospitals. Additional reports indicate damage to roads and educational facilities.
President Dina Boluarte is on her way to Callao to assess and oversee the response to the damage, as announced by the Peruvian presidency on X.
Local media footage depicted the aftermath with visuals of vehicles struck by debris, houses that sustained damage, and toppled billboards.
Hernando Tavera, executive president of the Geophysical Institute of Peru, confirmed to local television station N that all districts of Lima experienced the quake’s impact.
According to local radio, a professional football game being held at Lima’s Alberto Gallardo Stadium was momentarily halted. Additionally, a mass underway at Lima’s cathedral was disrupted as panicked congregation members exited the venue.
Peru’s geographical location along the Ring of Fire, a Pacific Ocean zone noted for its seismic activity and volcanic eruptions, has predisposed it to experiencing frequent earthquakes.