Magnitude 5.1 earthquake in Junín causes fatalities, injuries and structural damage as emergency teams search for survivors.

At least five people were killed after a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Peru’s central Junín region on Saturday night, causing homes to collapse, injuring residents and prompting rescue operations in communities near the epicenter.

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According to the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), the earthquake struck at 9:24 p.m. local time. Its epicenter was located 7 kilometers south of the district of Chupaca, at a depth of 24 kilometers.

Police said the five deaths were reported in the Pumpunya sector of Chongos Bajo district, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake. Rescue workers, emergency responders and medical personnel were deployed to assist the injured and continue search operations after several homes collapsed.

Text Reads:🚨 #URGENT | Junín: at least five people died following a strong 5.1 magnitude earthquake

Local authorities told RPP that people remained trapped beneath the rubble in Pumpunya as rescue efforts continued.

The earthquake reached an intensity of IV-V on the Modified Mercalli scale in Chupaca, where it was felt by most residents and prompted many to evacuate their homes. A magnitude 3.7 aftershock followed shortly afterward, with an intensity of III on the Mercalli scale, according to the IGP.

Damage was reported across several communities in Chupaca province. In Chongos Bajo, homes were damaged and residents were injured, while firefighters, the National Police and municipal emergency services responded to the affected areas. In Pucará, about 30 minutes from Huancayo, residents reported that people were trapped after the collapse of several houses.

Authorities also reported damage in Vista Alegre and Huamancaca Chico, where homes were affected and residents required medical attention. In Huancayo, preliminary assessments identified broken windows and damaged floor tiles in some buildings. The Cani Cruz religious monument in Chongos Bajo’s main square also collapsed during the earthquake.

The National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) said the Regional Health Directorate deployed two Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) ambulances to support the emergency response. Local disaster risk management offices, working alongside first-response agencies, continue to monitor conditions across the affected districts.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines said electricity provider Electrocentro reported power outages in the districts of Sapallanga, Chilca, Chongos Bajo, Cullhuas, Acostambo, Pazos and Huaribamba. Earlier reports also indicated service interruptions in Huancayo, Chupaca and nearby localities immediately after the earthquake.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications said no damage had been reported to the National Road Network or telecommunications services.

Peru lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions, where about 85 percent of global seismic activity occurs.

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