A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of southern Peru overnight on Friday, causing injuries to at least eight people, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake originated 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of Atiquipa, approximately 600 kilometers (372 miles) south of Lima, at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles).
Residents of Atiquipa reported feeling a strong and prolonged tremor that shook their beds, as documented on social media. CCTV footage from Caraveli, a nearby town, captured the intensity of the quake, showing residential streets shaking violently and residents emerging from their homes.
The earthquake's effects were felt as far away as Lima, where videos shared on social media depicted lamps swaying inside houses.
Authorities have confirmed that eight people were injured in the earthquake. Five of them received medical treatment in hospitals located in the Ica region, while three others were treated for minor injuries in hospitals in the neighboring Arequipa region, both situated in southwestern Peru, as reported by the Ministry of Health on Friday morning.
According to Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen, there have been no fatalities reported following the earthquake.
"We are currently finalizing the analysis of preliminary reports, which indicate no deaths, and we are assessing the impact on infrastructure," Adrianzen stated in an interview with radio RPP, as reported by the Peruvian news agency Andina.
The Peruvian Presidency announced that the government is actively monitoring the situation and evaluating potential damages.
Initially, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued an alert cautioning of the possibility of tsunami waves reaching heights of 1 to 3 meters along certain coastal areas in Peru. However, the alert was subsequently lifted, with the PTWC confirming that there is no longer any tsunami threat from the earthquake.
Peru, situated along the South American Pacific Coast, straddles the boundary of two tectonic plates: the South American plate, covering most of the continent, and the Nazca plate, extending across the Pacific along much of the coast.