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BFF-27
PERU-EARTHQUAKE
8.0-magnitude earthquake hits Peru, no injuries reported
LIMA, May 26, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – An 8.0-earthquake struck northern Peru in
the early hours of Sunday but there were no immediate reports of injuries or
damage.
The US Geological Survey said the epicenter was at a depth of 110
kilometers (68 miles). The agency has previously said that most big quakes in
South America occur at a maximum depth of 70 kilometers.
The quake hit at 0741 GMT about 75 kilometers southeast of the town of
Lagunas, along the Amazon basin near the border with Brazil.
“Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be
relatively localized,” USGS said in a preliminary assessment.
The Geophysics Institute of Peru said the quake measured 7.2 magnitude
while Peruvian authorities said the tremor caused alarm among locals but no
damage was reported.
The earthquake was felt in northern and central Peru, including the capital
Lima.
“Based on all available data… there is no tsunami threat because the
earthquake is located too deep inside the earth,” the US-based Pacific
Tsunami Warning Center said.
In February a quake measuring 7.5 with its epicenter in neighboring Ecuador
rattled the coast and Amazon region of northern Peru.
It left nine people injured and caused damage in Ecuador, but Peru was
unscathed.
Peru is located in a seismically active region, and on January 14 last year
a quake measuring 7.3 killed two people and toppled buildings near the
southern city of Arequipa.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1456 hrs