Peru Earthquake: Country Rocked By 7.5 Quake, 16th-Century Catholic Church Tower Collapses
Northern Peru was rocked by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on Sunday morning. There have been no reported deaths or serious injuries.
The earthquake struck at 5:52 a.m. local time. The epicenter was 25 miles northwest of the small coastal city of Barranca. The earthquake was felt in Ecuador and Colombia.
According to Reuters, Jalca Grande's mayor said several houses had been damaged.
Some of the destruction included a 16th-century Catholic church tower. Three people were slightly injured in the collapse of the famed church and atrium of La Jalca Grande. Photos posted online showed the 45-foot tower reduced to a pile of rubble.
President Pedro Castillo-Terrones vowed to support those affected.
"All my solidarity with the people of Amazonas in the face of the strong earthquake. I have arranged for the ministries and members of the executive branch to implement immediate action. You are not alone, brothers. We will support those affected by structural damage," Castillo-Terrones posted on Twitter.
Castillo-Terrones also mentioned on Twitter that he will be visiting the affected areas in the Amazonas region.
The earthquake was felt 500 miles away in the capital of Lima.
Earthquakes are common in Peru. On July 31, a 6.1 earthquake shook the north Pacific coast of the country. Many residents fled their homes and there was severe damage to a centuries-old church.
Due to Peru being in the Pacific Ring of Fire, 85% of the entire planet's earthquake activity happens in the area.
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