Peru: A magnitude-5.1 offshore earthquake occurs near Ascope Province, at around 18:30 Feb. 3

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of Santiago de Cao, Ascope Province, Peru, at around 18:30 Feb. 3. The epicenter was about 73 km (45 miles) west of Santiago de Cao. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 41 km (25 miles), and shaking was probably felt throughout Amazonas, Cajamarca, La Libertad, and Lambayeque provinces, Peru. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. 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.