Doha: At least six people were killed and 21 others injured in an earthquake that struck the Junin region of central Peru.
According to Qatar News Agency, Peru's National Seismological Center reported that a 5.1 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 3.7 magnitude aftershock, struck Chupaca Province in the Junin region, about 300 kilometers east of the capital, Lima.
Head of Peru's National Civil Defense Institute Luis Vasquez said authorities have confirmed six deaths and 21 injuries so far. He added that initial reports indicate that about 48 homes were destroyed and 18 others were damaged, affecting approximately 300 people who are being provided with temporary shelter by authorities.
He noted that emergency and fire crews have arrived in the affected areas to clear debris, amid concerns that others may still be trapped. Peru experiences at least 400 earthquakes per year, which are felt by the population, as it lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismic activity zone that stretches along the west coast of the American continent.