Recent earthquakes in Peru
Peru sits above the subduction zone where the Nazca Plate dives beneath South America along the Peru-Chile Trench. This produces both shallow megathrust earthquakes off the coast and deeper events beneath the Andes. The 1970 Ancash earthquake (M7.9) triggered a landslide that buried the town of Yungay and remains the deadliest earthquake in the Western Hemisphere. In the past 24 hours, Peru has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.7 | Oct 25, 17:11 UTC | 62 km | 19 km NE of Atico, Peru |
| M4.6 | Oct 25, 07:11 UTC | 26 km | 50 km SW of Atiquipa, Peru |
| M4.1 | Oct 24, 20:57 UTC | 68 km | 37 km ESE of Cañaveral, Peru |
Notable recent activity
An M4.7 earthquake struck 19 km NE of Atico, Peru at 17:11 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 62 km.
An M4.6 earthquake struck 50 km SW of Atiquipa, Peru at 07:11 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 26 km.
An M4.1 earthquake struck 37 km ESE of Cañaveral, Peru at 20:57 UTC on Oct 24 at a depth of 68 km.
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes does Peru get?
Peru records hundreds of felt earthquakes a year and a damaging event every few years on average, nearly all driven by the Nazca Plate subducting beneath the coast. Larger megathrust ruptures occur along the offshore trench.
Why does Peru have earthquakes?
The Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate off Peru's coast, storing strain that releases in offshore megathrust earthquakes and in deeper events under the Andes. Coastal cities such as Lima sit directly above this boundary.
What was the deadliest earthquake in Peru?
The May 31, 1970 Ancash earthquake, magnitude 7.9, killed roughly 70,000 people, mostly in a debris avalanche that buried Yungay. It is the deadliest earthquake recorded in the Western Hemisphere. The 2007 Pisco earthquake (M8.0) was another major event.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.