A magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the Tirapata region of southern Peru on Thursday, creating confusion among Peruvian officials as to the scope of damages and injuries.
The quake struck 20 kilometers northeast of Azangaro, near Lake Titicaca and the Bolivian border, and occurred at a depth of 132 miles, Reuters reported.
“The information we have so far is that there is no damage,” Hernando Tavera, executive president of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), told local radio station RPP. “From the level of intensity on the surface, there should be no damage.”
The National Emergency Operations Center’s general coordinator, Rolando Capucho, countered, saying the center was still “watching the situation; it’s really early to determine whether or not there has been any damage.”
Peruvians across the country felt the quake, including in Arequipa. Many in Peru’s second-largest city and other southern cities took to the streets in search of safety.
“It was strong; many people went out into the streets,” said one caller to RPP from the southern city of Cusco, which is near the world-famous Inca ruins of Macchu Pichu.
The presidency advised “calm in the face of probable aftershocks” and stated on Twitter that officials were assessing the quake’s impact.
Reuters reported Peru is the world’s second-largest copper producer and has some notable mines in the affected region, including Minsur’s San Rafael zinc mine near Puno. The firm’s representatives were unable to comment on the status of their operation as of press time.
Peru lies in the “Ring of Fire” region of the South Pacific. Approximately 85% of the world’s seismic activity occurs in this region. According to LimaEasy, a Peruvian travel and leisure guide, the country is hit by hundreds or even thousands of quakes annually.