On June 16, 2025, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Lima, the capital of Peru, and its surrounding areas, killing 1 person and injuring 36. The earthquake also caused landslides and damaged medical and educational facilities. The Peruvian National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) stated that the earthquake occurred at 11:35 AM local time (16:35 GMT), with its epicenter located approximately 30 km southwest of Callao, a city adjacent to the capital.
Casualties and Injuries
According to the police, a 36-year-old man in the Independencia district of Lima died after a wall collapsed onto his vehicle. COEN reported that 36 people were injured in Lima and are receiving treatment at hospitals. President Dina Boluarte immediately urged the public to "remain calm" after the earthquake, emphasizing that there was no tsunami alert.
Damage and Authorities' Response
Videos aired by Latina television showed landslides occurring in various parts of Lima. The earthquake temporarily halted the Apertura football tournament match between Sporting Cristal and Deportivo Garcilaso, and Lima Metro services were also suspended.
Peru, a country with a population of 34 million, is located in the 'Pacific Ring of Fire,' which stretches along the western coast of the Americas and the eastern coast of Asia. This region is one of the most seismically active in the world, with at least 100 perceptible earthquakes occurring annually in Peru alone.
The government is taking swift action to restore damage from this earthquake and prevent further harm. COEN has mobilized disaster response personnel to assess the situation in affected areas and is fully committed to treating the injured and assisting those displaced. Specifically, they plan to conduct safety inspections of buildings, reinforce structures at risk of further collapse, and intensify monitoring in landslide-prone areas to ensure residents' safety. Information regarding damaged roads and traffic control zones due to the earthquake is being provided in real-time to minimize inconvenience for citizens.
Peru's Earthquake History and Geological Characteristics
Peru is a highly seismically active country and has suffered significant damage from large earthquakes multiple times in the past. The most recent major earthquake, a magnitude 7.5 tremor, occurred in the Amazon region in November 2021, injuring 12 people and destroying over 70 homes. In 1970, an earthquake in the north-central Ancash region of Peru killed 67,000 people, marking it as one of the deadliest earthquakes in the last 100 years.
Earthquakes in Peru primarily occur at the boundary where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate. These plate boundaries are constantly moving, accumulating vast amounts of energy, which is released all at once when an earthquake occurs. The Peruvian government and geological research institutions are continuously improving earthquake prediction systems through ongoing research and monitoring of high-risk areas, and regularly conducting earthquake preparedness drills to minimize casualties. Furthermore, they have established laws to strengthen seismic design in buildings, aiming to prevent structural collapse and ensure citizen safety during an earthquake.
This earthquake serves as another reminder of Peru's vulnerability to seismic activity. It is crucial for both the government and citizens to heighten their awareness of earthquakes and to thoroughly prepare in advance to minimize damage in the event of a disaster.
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