Twin Earthquakes in Peru Kill at Least Five, Injure Dozens

A pair of earthquakes struck central Peru on Saturday night, killing at least five people and injuring more than 20. The first tremor, reported as magnitude 5.1 to 5.6 by different agencies, hit the Junín region, followed 17 minutes later by a 3.7 aftershock. Authorities confirm about 300 people have been displaced, with adobe homes particularly vulnerable to collapse.

The quakes

• The initial earthquake struck at 9:24 p.m. local time on July 18, with its epicenter near Sicaya in Huancayo province, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and local reports Source: AP News. Peru’s seismological center measured it at magnitude 5.1 at a depth of 24 km, while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre estimated 5.6 Source: SCMP. Depth estimates vary: AP and The Guardian report 10 km, while others say 24 km.
• The aftershock of magnitude 3.7 at 18 km depth was felt minutes later Source: SCMP.

Damage and response

• At least 48 homes were destroyed and 18 damaged, displacing around 300 people who are receiving tents Source: SCMP. The worst-hit area appears to be the agricultural district of Chongos Bajo Source: AP News.
• Local officials blame the widespread destruction on adobe construction. Luis Vásquez of the National Civil Defense Institute noted that “rustic adobe materials … contributed to the greater impact” Source: The Guardian.