Junín, Peru earthquake kills five, leaves thousands displaced

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck the Junín region of central Peru on 18 July 2026, with its epicenter near the district of Pumpunya in Chupaca province. The Instituto Geofísico del Perú identified the reactivation of the 50‑km Altos del Mantaro fault as the cause. The quake was shallow (9.5 km) and generated strong ground accelerations, leading to severe damage in Chupaca, Huancayo and surrounding districts.

Official counts report at least five fatalities, 32 injuries and more than 2,000 people classified as damnificados. The disaster destroyed or rendered uninhabitable 724 homes, collapsed historic churches in Pumpunya and Chongos Bajo, and prompted the declaration of a 60‑day state of emergency for several districts. Government agencies and the Catholic Church’s Caritas programme have coordinated emergency relief, including distribution of food, blankets, mattresses and a monthly housing‑rent subsidy of S/ 500 for affected families. Monitoring of the Altos del Mantaro fault and aftershocks continues.