'Very Strong' (6.1) Quake Hits Peru

Earthquake Causes Damage in Northern Peru

The magnitude-6 earthquake that hit northern Peru this weekend damaged several churches in Sechura, a province in Piura region, media reports said.

The earthquake occurred at 6:51 p.m. Saturday and had its epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, the Peruvian Geophysics Institute, or IGP, said.

The quake's epicenter was located 38 kilometers (nearly 24 miles) west of Sechura and 146 kilometers (90 miles) west of Olmos, the IGP said.

The tower of the church in Sechura sustained minor damage, while one of the towers of San Clemente Church was damaged, RPP Noticias reported.

Emergency management office personnel are inspecting buildings in Sechura and providing assistance to residents, RPP Noticias said.

The temblor in northern Peru on Saturday evening was not related to the magnitude-6.1 quake that hit the southern part of the country earlier in the day, IGP director Hernan Tavera told RPP Noticias.

Both earthquakes were caused by shifting plates under the ocean, Tavera said.

Very Strong Dangerous Earthquake Near Coast Of northern Peru

[Updated frequently]

Update 16:25 UTC: Here’s a quick recap of the damage done by this earthquake:
- 3 damaged churches, one in Sechura, one in Colan and one in Piura, two of them have damage in their towers and the other one has a damaged roof.
- 50 damaged homes in Sechura, most of them with broken windows and cracked walls.
- 1 cracked road in km25, Parachique
- 1 affected home due to landslide in Caleta Puerto Rico, Sechura
- Damaged homes in Parachique.
- No electricity in La Arena.

Update 01:36 UTC: There is damage reported in Sechura, Paita, Colán and Parachique.

Update 01:29 UTC: The tower of the church San Clemente in Sechura was also damaged.

Update 01:15 UTC: There are destroyed roads in Piura, people are talking about collapsed houses in Catacaos.

Update 00:59 UTC : We are seeing a lot of reports of small damage in several homes but nothing about collapsed houses, which is good news. Below the church who has lost the top of the right tower. A local News Network reports a lot of damage in Piura and even more in Sechura. Sechura is almost above the epicenter.