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A powerful earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale struck the Andes region of Peru, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals, as reported by local authorities on Sunday. The tremor, which occurred on Saturday at 9:24 p.m., injured over 20 people and displaced around 300 residents. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter was located 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) west-southwest of Sicaya in Huancayo province, with a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles).

The National Civil Defense Institute of Peru indicated that the number of missing persons remains uncertain. Numerous structures, including a local church and convent, experienced significant damage or collapsed entirely. Luis Vásquez, the head of the local civil defense office, noted that the prevalent use of traditional adobe materials in construction has exacerbated the destruction in the region.

Peru is situated in the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' making it prone to seismic activity. Local media captured the distress of victims' families in Chongo Bajo, one of the most affected areas, where residents sought refuge under blankets outside their severely damaged homes. Animals were also seen trapped under debris. Hermenegilda Guamalato, a local resident, expressed her despair, stating, 'My home has been destroyed,' as she looked for shelter for her three children in the nearby province of Huayucachi.

This recent earthquake follows a devastating 7.9 magnitude quake that struck the Ica region in 2007, claiming nearly 600 lives.