Peru and Bolivia Jolted by an Earthquake With Seismic Magnitude Scales of 7.2

A massive earthquake struck parts of southern Peru on Thursday.

Moderate shaking was observed in a distant part of the South American country. There were no reports of injuries or property damage right away.

According to the Associated Press, terrified Bolivians raced into the streets. In several places of La Paz, buildings trembled.

Arequipa, Tacna, and Cusco, as well as northern Chile, experienced tremors.

(Photo : GUADALUPE PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - A general view shows a crack on the ground caused by a quake in Puerto Santa Gema, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, in the Amazon region, Peru on May 26, 2019. - A powerful 8.0-earthquake struck northern Peru in the early hours of Sunday, toppling houses, blocking roads and knocking out power to some localities. One person was killed and 18 others injured as the shockwave extended into neighboring Ecuador, authorities said.

Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake Hits Peru, Bolivia

A significant 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Peru on Thursday. Peruvian authorities said no one was killed or injured at the time.

According to Peru's National Seismological Center, the quake had a magnitude of 6.9 and a depth of 240 kilometers.

The epicenter was 20 kilometers northeast of Azangaro, close to Lake Titicaca and the Bolivian border.

According to Peruvian authorities, the quake sent shockwaves over the country's southwest, bordering Chile.

The quake struck at around 7 a.m. local time, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It was 8 miles west-northwest of Azangaro and centered at a depth of 135 miles, considerably below the surface.

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United States Tsunami Warning System mentioned there was no tsunami warning in force.

"For the moment, given the level of intensity at the surface, it should not generate any more damage than fear," Hernando Tavera, the director of Peru's Geophysics Institute, told RPP radio station (via Gulf News).

"When the quake is deeper there is less shaking of the ground," he added.

Rolando Capucho, the general co-ordinator at the National Emergency Operations Center, stated in the same Gulf News report they were still "monitoring the situation." He pointed out that it's very early to know whether or not there has been any damage.

Peru has encountered strong earthquakes in the past years. According to the USGS (via NDTV), a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near the epicenter of Thursday's tremor in 2019.

Also, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northern Peru last November, 26 miles north-northwest of Barranca, in the Amazonas area. The earthquake was felt in Lima's capital, although no one was injured, UPI reported.

Why Peru Is Prone To Earthquakes

Peru is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the collision zone of the South American and Nazca tectonic plates, The Independent reported.

Peru is one of the Pacific Ocean countries that make up the so-called Ring of Fire, a path characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes due to its placement along tectonic plate borders.

Plate movement causes earthquakes and volcanoes to occur frequently throughout most Pacific coastline, both in the Americas and Asia. Tectonic plate movement helped construct the Andes mountains and a number of volcanoes in southern Peru.