Strong and shallow M6.1 earthquake hits Peru – Ecuador border region

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit Peru – Ecuador border region at 17:10 UTC (12:10 LT) on July 30, 2021. The agency is reporting a depth of 33.2 km (20.6 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.2 at a depth of 49 km (30 miles).

The epicenter was located 8.4 km (5.2 miles) E of Sullana (population 160 789), 9.6 km (6 miles) SSE of Querocotillo (population 25 396), and 31 km (19.2 miles) N of Piura (population 325 466), Peru.

There are 1 680 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).

315 000 people are estimated to have felt strong shaking, 1 013 000 moderate, and 1 157 000 light.

The USGS issued a Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Past events with this alert level have required a local or regional level response.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall and reinforced/confined masonry construction.

Image credit: TW/SAM, Google

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Selected cities exposed

Regional seismicity

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google