Peru Earthquake: Powerful 8.0 magnitude tremor strikes central Peru; Colombia, Brazil affected
A powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck in northern and central Peru. It is said to be the biggest quake in the world so far this year. Colombia and Brazil were also affected by the huge earthquake.
“An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale hit northern Peru today at 07:41 UTC,” reported ANI.
USGS Big Quakes: An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale hit northern Peru today at 07:41 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2019
According to Mirror UK, the tremors were felt more than 600 miles away in neighbouring Equador. The tremor hit at 8.41am UK time in the Pacaua Samiria National Reserve Park.
The USGS says a magnitude 8 earthquake can: “Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse.
“Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.”
American Tum Wuttke wrote on Twitter: "Totally felt that earthquake from a 9th-floor hotel room in Lima, Peru. Lasted about a minute."
“The earthquake struck Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Peru due to the magnitude was similar in those countries," another user tweeted.
The quake struck around 180 km east of the town on of Moyobamba, the capital of the San Martín region in northern Peru, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It is also understood to have reached a depth of around 105 km.
Also read: US to deploy 1500 additional troops to Middle East as 'protective measure': Donald Trump
First published: 26 May 2019, 14:49 IST