Strong M6.5 earthquake hits northern Peru at intermediate depth
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.5 hit northern Peru at 15:58 UTC (10:58 LT) on February 3, 2022. The agency is reporting a depth of 100 km (62 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
The epicenter was located about 51 km (32 miles) NW of Barranca (population 5 779) and 176 km (109 miles) N of Moyobamba (population 44 276), Peru.
There are about 50 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).
4 000 people are estimated to have felt strong shaking and 52 000 moderate.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
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
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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