5.5 magnitude earthquake hits Peru's Andes region, killing at least 5 people

Lima (Peru): A 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook the Andes region of Peru, killing at least five people, local authorities said on Sunday.

More than 20 people were injured, and 300 have been displaced so far.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake struck on Saturday at 9:24 pm local time, with its epicentre located 2 kilometres west-southwest of the city of Sicaya, in Huancayo province.


The incident took place at a depth of 10 kilometres.

Peru's National Civil Defence Institute said in a statement the total number of people missing is still unknown.

Several buildings collapsed or suffered structural damage, including the local church and convent.

Images broadcast by local media captured the anguish of victims' relatives in one of the hardest-hit areas, the agricultural region of Chongo Bajo, where residents huddled under blankets outside severely damaged homes. Animals were also seen under the rubble.

In 2007, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the province of Pisco in the Ica region, leaving nearly 600 people dead. Earthquakes are frequent in Peru, as the country is located in the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire."