M6.0 earthquake hits central Peru at intermediate depth
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit central Peru at 10:22 UTC on May 17, 2025, at a depth of 92 km (57 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Epicenter of M6.0 earthquake in central Peru on May 17, 2025. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 6.6 km (4.1 miles) W of San Pedro (population 517), 8.3 km (5.2 miles) SSW of Puquio (population 10 491), 84 km (52 miles) E of Nazca (population 23 556), and 180 km (113 miles) south of Ayacucho (population 140 033), Ayacucho, Peru.
The affected area consists of various small towns and communities, with regional population densities ranging from moderate in urban centers like Puquio to sparse in surrounding rural highlands. The region is connected to the coastal Pan-American Highway corridor via major inland roads, such as PE-30A, which links Nazca with Puquio and Ayacucho.
570 000 people are estimated to have felt light shaking (IV) and 1 218 000 weak (II-III).
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.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Peru lies on the boundary between the South American Plate and the subducting Nazca Plate, one of the world’s most seismically active regions. The area regularly experiences significant earthquakes due to convergent plate boundary tectonics.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.0 earthquake, central Peru – USGS – May 17, 2025
2 M6.0 earthquake, central Peru – EMSC – May 17, 2025
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.
