Earthquake today: An earthquake of magnitude 7.0 has hit off the coast of Peru in South America around 12:36 am local time, Bloomberg reported citing the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake struck 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles) from Atiquipa district in Peru, as per an AFP report. It added that there is a possibility of tsunami waves along some coastlines.
Atiquipa is a district in Peru's southern province of Caravelí, some 380 miles south of the capital, Lima, near the borders with Chile and Bolivia. The depth was 17 miles (28 kilometers). AP reported no immediate reports of casualties.
The earthquake was felt in the nearby regions of Ayacucho, Ica, and the capital, the AP report stated, citing local media. It added that Eder Allca, the mayor of Sancos, in the Ayacucho region, told the local radio station RPP that a road in his district suffered rock slides that cut off several localities.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, which initially said there was no threat, later warned that waves of up to three metres were “possible along some coasts”, AFP said.
The Hydrography and Navigation Directorate of the Peruvian Navy reported that the seismic event generated a tsunami alert along the Peruvian coast. Earthquakes are frequent in Peru, as the country is located in the Pacific "Ring of Fire.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
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