6.9 Earthquake Hits Coast of Peru

A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake rattled Peru’s central coast on Friday, sending thousands of residents of Lima and other cities into the streets. There are no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake was centered 32 miles (52 kilometers) south of Ica (north of Nazca), and about 180 miles southeast of the capital Lima.

RPP radio reported that there was widespread panic but few reports of serious damage from the coastal city of Ica. The area around Ica was badly damaged in an August, 2007 earthquake, killing more than 500 people and injuring more than 1,000.

An official with base metals miner Southern Copper Corp. said that so far there was no news about any damage. Its mines are located in the southern regions of Peru, Dow Jones Newswires reported.

The earthquake did not prompt a tsunami alert; however it was felt in differet parts of the country, which include Arequipa, Huancavelica, Cusco, Huanuco and Ayacucho, among other regions, as well as in Ecuador, Chile and Bolivia.