Earthquake of magnitude 5.6 strikes central Peru, EMSC says

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck central Peru on Saturday, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake occurred at a depth of 22 km.

The tremor came a day after a stronger magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of southern Mexico, triggering a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific.

Authorities in Mexico and Guatemala reported no fatalities or major damage from the powerful quake, which was also felt in El Salvador. Mexico’s navy said there was “no serious impact,” though residents were advised to stay away from beaches as a precaution.

The US Tsunami Warning System initially warned of potentially hazardous tsunami waves along the coasts of Mexico and Guatemala. Small waves of up to 0.3 metres above tide level were later recorded in Mexico’s Puerto Madero and Chiapas before the warning was lifted.

The earthquake struck near the fishing town of Puerto Madero at a depth of 15.2 km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Several aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 4.7 to 6.0, were recorded.

Officials in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas said the quake was felt with moderate intensity but caused no significant damage. In Guatemala and El Salvador, the tremor prompted evacuations as buildings swayed, though no casualties were reported.

Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo said emergency response teams had been deployed after a separate magnitude 5.6 quake centred near Quetzaltenango, adding that no fatalities had been reported.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had also forecast minor tsunami waves of less than 0.3 metres along parts of the Pacific coast, including El Salvador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Honduras.

Authorities later said the tsunami threat had passed but advised people near the coast to remain cautious.

With agency inputs

First Published: 

Jul 19, 2026 8:28 AM

IST