A massive quake stroke 124 km southwest of the city of Puquio in Peru, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake measured 7.3 on the Richter scale.
According to the governor of the Peruvian Arequipa region, at least 20 people were injured as result of the quake.
Head of the National Institute of Civil Defense Jorge Chavez said, as cited by the RPP media outlet, that two people were killed by the natural disaster in the Caraveli province's districts of Yauca and Bella Union, whereas about 65 people were injured in the provinces of Caraveli and Nazca.
Soon after the tremor, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning, however later in the day it said that "the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed."
The governor of Peru's Arequipa said that there was minor material damage after the quake, non-serious damage to some roads.
New #Earthquake. 🌎
— Chile Alerta 🇨🇱⚠🌎 (@ChileAlertaApp) January 14, 2018
7.3 — 31km SSW of #Acari — #Peru.
2018/01/14 09:18:46.#Temblor #Sismo #USGS #alert pic.twitter.com/XzrXauuSiW
People on social media say that authorities are trying to restore electricity, which went out in the areas of Ica, Arequipa and Ayacucho.
Zonas de Ica, Arequipa y Ayacucho sin energía eléctrica pero sin daños mayores.
— Patricio Valderrama (@patriciov) January 14, 2018
There are also different reports on the current situation in the region, as some users say that the earthquake just scared them a little, whereas others say that chaos broke out after the disaster.
— Melissa D. Sender (@melissadsender) January 14, 2018
Much chaos, was strong enough.
— Jorge Luis Rodriguez (@JorgeR0driguez) January 14, 2018
All is well in the city of Arequipa.
— anna (@meowsup) January 14, 2018
My family in Arequipa says they are good, it was no more than a scare.
Some people posted on Twitter that they had even prepared emergency backpacks.
Yo tengo mochila de emergencia, cerca a mi puerta, pero también dos bebotes que cargar…primero agarro a los bebes, la mochila ahi es complicado.
— Krencita (@KrenGutierrezA) January 14, 2018
Puquio is a capital of the province of Lucanas in Ayacucho region in Central Peru.
The affected area is located between two tectonic plates that are in a constant slow-motion collision, with the South American Plate advancing over the Nazca Plate by 3 inches every year.
In 1970 Peru faced the worst natural disaster in its history — the Ancash earthquake, more commonly known as the Great Peruvian earthquake. The severe quake lasted for about 45 seconds and caused massive landslides of snow and ice. The disaster claimed lives of at least 66,794 people.
