A magnitude 7.2 earthquake rattled Peru’s southern coast over night Friday, at a depth of 28 kilometers, 17 miles, according to the United States Geological Survey.
According to CNN, no immediate casualties were reported.
The quake hit 8 kilometers, 5 miles, west of Atiquipa, approximately 600 kilometers, 372 miles, south of Lima, the capital.
Residents of Atiquipa reported on social media feeling a very strong and prolonged quake that shook their beds.
CCTV footage from Caraveli, a nearby town, captured the moment when the tremors violently shook a residential street, prompting people to come out of their houses.
The earthquake was felt as far as Lima, where video footage shared on social media showed lamps swaying inside homes.
Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen stated that no fatalities had been reported following the earthquake.
“We are currently finalizing the analysis of preliminary reports, which indicate no deaths. We are also monitoring the impact on infrastructure,” Adrianzen said in an interview with radio RPP, as reported by Andina, the Peruvian news agency.
The Peruvian Presidency confirmed that the government is closely monitoring the situation and assessing any potential damage.
Initially, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued an alert cautioning of possible tsunami waves reaching heights of 1 to 3 meters along some coastal areas in Peru. However, the PTWC later canceled the alert, stating that there was no longer any tsunami threat.
“The tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed,” the PTWC announced.
Peru, situated along the South American Pacific Coast, straddles the boundary of two tectonic plates: the South American plate, covering most of the continent, and the Nazca plate, extending across the Pacific along much of the coast.
