2019 Peru earthquake


An earthquake measuring 8.0 struck Peru and the surrounding areas on 26 May 2019 at 02:41 local time. It had a maximum perceived intensity of VIII on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. Two people died and a further 30 were injured. It was the strongest earthquake in 2019 by magnitude.

Tectonic setting

Peru lies above the destructive plate boundary where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate. The plates converge at a rate of 70 mm per year. The country has been affected by many large megathrust earthquakes caused by slip along the plate interface, such as the 1868 Arica earthquake. There are also large earthquakes of intermediate depth caused by faulting within the downgoing Nazca Plate.

Earthquake

On 26 May 2019, at 07:41 UTC, a 8.0 earthquake struck northern Peru. The earthquake lasted for about 60 seconds, with most of the energy being released within a period of about 40–60 seconds. The earthquake's epicenter was in the northern region of Peru, near Ecuador. This intermediate depth event was caused by normal faulting within the Nazca Plate. Out of the two possible solutions of the moment tensor, analysis of seismic waveforms suggests that the causative fault dips towards the east.

Damage and casualties

Two people were killed and 15 others were injured in Peru, while a further 15 people were injured in Ecuador.

Peru

The President Martín Vizcarra of Peru called for calm and said that he, along with his transportation minister, would evaluate the damage to roadways. Vizcarra also stated that other officials would evaluate damage to structures and any effects on a nearby reservoir. Many people evacuated homes and stores when the earthquake struck late at night. Some buildings, streets, and bridges suffered damage from the earthquake.
The earthquake damaged 833 homes and left 404 of them uninhabitable. 38 health facilities were damaged, with 4 of them being rendered unusable. 111 schools were affected with 7 being put out of action.

Ecuador

Some damage was reported from the parts of Ecuador closest to the epicenter.