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Ayacucho, Peru struck by magnitude 7.2 earthquake FAST-MOVING
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the southern Peruvian region of Ayacucho on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 1:00 PM local time. According to the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), the epicenter was located 35 kilometers north of Coracora in the Parinacochas province, at a depth of 108 kilometers.
The seismic event was felt across multiple regions, including Cusco, Arequipa, Ica, Apurímac, and the capital, Lima. While the USGS estimated a lower magnitude of 6.7, the IGP maintained the 7.2 figure. The significant depth of the earthquake helped mitigate surface impact, preventing critical damage.
Preliminary reports from the National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci) indicate that while no fatalities have been confirmed, there are reports of material damage to homes, health centers, and educational institutions in Ayacucho. In Coracora, two people were reportedly injured during evacuations. Additionally, landslides and rockfalls were observed in mountainous areas near the epicenter. The Peruvian Navy has ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.
Entities
Ayacucho · Coracora · Enfen · Hernando Tavera · Indeci · Instituto Geofísico del Perú · Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil · Lake Titicaca · Lima · Lurín · Marina de Guerra del Perú · Parinacochas
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ite station in Tacna recorded 10.2 mm of rain, a historical record for the area.
- [● 11 SOURCES] A magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred on August 19, 2026, at 05:28 local time. www.futbolperuano.com · www.canal13sanjuan.com · lapatria.bo · lavozdetarija.com · n60.pe
- [● 3 SOURCES] The DANA Aníbal phenomenon and El Niño Costero have caused record-breaking rainfall in various regions.
- [● 11 SOURCES] The epicenter was located 42 km southwest of Lurín, Lima, at a depth of 42 km. www.futbolperuano.com · www.canal13sanjuan.com · lapatria.bo · lavozdetarija.com · n60.pe
- [● 7 SOURCES] No material damage or casualties were reported from the 4.8 magnitude earthquake in Lima. www.futbolperuano.com · lapatria.bo · www.canal13sanjuan.com · lavozdetarija.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The earthquake did not generate a tsunami warning for the Peruvian coast. www.futbolperuano.com · lapatria.bo
- [● 19 SOURCES] The earthquake reached an intensity of III-IV on the Mercalli scale in Coracora. www.canal13sanjuan.com · lavozdetarija.com · www.20minutos.es · www.dn.pt · www.azulcristalfm.com.mx · +10 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Peru does not currently have a fully operational official seismic early warning system for the general population. n60.pe · lavozdetarija.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Peru does not currently have an official, fully operational seismic early warning system for the entire population. n60.pe
- [● 3 SOURCES] Peru does not currently have a fully operational official seismic early warning system for all citizens. n60.pe · lavozdetarija.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Anomalous waves in Lake Titicaca damaged approximately 70% of trout cages in the Puno region. elinformanteperu.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The DANA Aníbal phenomenon, interacting with El Niño Costero, has caused record-breaking rainfall and extreme weather in Peru.