Peru: No initial reports of damage or casualties following magnitude-6.2 earthquake in Arequipa Region at around 07:11 Dec. 20 /update 1

There have been no initial reports of major damage or casualties following a magnitude-6.2 earthquake that occurred in Iray District, Arequipa Region, at around 07:11 Dec. 20. The epicenter was about 11 km (7 miles) south-southeast of Iray. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 93 km (58 miles), and authorities have reported moderate-to-strong shaking was felt across parts of Arequipa Region and light shaking in parts of Ayacucho, Ica, Moquegua, and Tacna regions. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, landslides have been reported in parts of Arequipa Region, including in Castilla Province and on the northern outskirts of Arequipa City. Several roads have been blocked by the landslides. Authorities have stated there are no reports of power or telecommunication outages. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light-to-moderate aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.