Devastating Earthquake Hits Central Highlands of Peru

Peru regularly experiences earthquakes, but the recent 5.5-magnitude quake in the central highlands was the most significant in nearly five decades. On July 15, 2026, the Junín region faced a severe impact from the quake, leading to six fatalities and at least 20 injuries, authorities reported.

The earthquake struck close to Chongos Bajos district at 9:24 PM, causing substantial damage to many homes. Around 300 residents sought shelter in a sports stadium due to ongoing aftershocks, according to the National Institute of Civil Defense.

Local broadcaster RPP noted that the disaster also damaged the town’s historical 16th-century church and chapel. The United States Geological Survey recorded the quake’s depth at 6.2 miles. Meanwhile, Peru’s National Geophysical Institute reported a magnitude of 5.1 and a depth of approximately 15 miles.

Hernando Tavera, head of Peru’s Geophysical Institute, informed a local TV channel that this was the largest earthquake to hit Peru’s central highlands since 1969, when the region experienced tremors of 5.9 and 6 magnitudes. Mr. Tavera also highlighted that traditional adobe and straw homes common in the Andes are especially susceptible to collapse during such events.

So far in 2026, Peru has experienced 450 earthquakes, a typical figure for such a seismically active country, Mr. Tavera added. The earthquake caused electricity outages around the epicenter, with several villages remaining without power on Sunday, Luis Vásquez, head of the National Institute of Civil Defense, stated on the TV program Exitosa Noticias.