Earthquake in Peru

A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Peru on 26 May 2019. One person was killed and almost a dozen were injured.

The earthquake occurred in the north of the country, near the town of Yurimaguas. The town was the worst affected by the earthquake, where they lost electricity, several homes were destroyed and a bridge connecting Yurimaguas to the nearby town of Tarapoto collapsed.

Emergency services are on the scene, performing rescue operations and damage assessment. Early reports indicate landslides have also occurred in the region, blocking some roads.

USGS report that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 110 km. An earthquake of magnitude 8 is at the high end of the Richter scale and would normally cause a great deal of damage had it occurred closer to the surface.