Earthquake Hits Arequipa

Peru: Magnitude 6 earthquake shakes southern city of Arequipa

Arequipa, one of Peru's southern cities and the country's second largest, was hit by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake early Tuesday morning, reported the US Geological Survey.

It was reported that residents in and near the city of Arequipa, which is 721 kilometers (448 miles) southeast of Lima, were startled and ran out of their homes when the shaking began. Preliminary conversations with HBI in-country partners reveals that all are safe and the damage to property is at a minimum. More details from this massive earthquake will follow in future HBI Blog posts.

According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was in a mountainous region 53 kilometers (33 miles) north-northwest of the city - an area where HBI has worked for some 5 years now. While local media and civil defense authorities have reported that there are not any initial signs of injuries or damage, it is known that a magnitude 6 quake can cause serious damage.

It was reported the earthquake was felt in neighboring regions as well. There were reports of movement in the regions of Moquegua and Tacna.

Please note - a majority of the information in this post was taken directly from: Living in Peru website by Israel J. Ruiz