A magnitude 6.7 earthquake shakes Peru’s southern Andes, injuring at least 2 and damaging homes

LIMA, Peru (AP) – A magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook Peru's southern Andes Mountains on Thursday, injuring at least two individuals and damaging homes, health centers and schools, authorities stated.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake occurred at 1 p.m. Local time (18: 00 GMT) and was centered 38 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of the city of Upahuacho, in the Parinacochas province of the Ayacucho region. It had a depth of 66 kilometers (41 miles).

As well as in the capital, Lima, the earthquake was felt in a number of regions of southern Peru, including Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac and Cusco.

Luis Vásquez, head of Civil Defense, remarked to journalists that two residents were injured while evacuating their homes during the earthquake in Coracora, the capital of Parinacochas province.

Authorities additionally noted damage to 22 homes, six health centers and a school throughout a number of districts in Ayacucho and Cusco, including the towns of Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro and Pichari.

Taken together, the developments around a magnitude 6.7 earthquake shakes Peru's southern Andes, injuring at least 2 point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.