Magnitude 8 earthquake strikes Amazon jungle in Peru
An aerial view shows a landslide caused by a quake in Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool Photo via AP)
Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra, second from right, arrives to the airport after checking earthquake-related damage by air as he arrives to Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool Photo via AP)
In this photo courtesy of Hoy Noticias media, a road is left cracked after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in San Martin, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. The powerful quake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Hoy Noticias via AP)
In this photo provided by Firefighters of Peru, debris covers a street after an earthquake in Yurimaguas Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Firefighters of Peru via AP)
In this photo provided by the Government Palace Press Office, Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra, speaks with the press before flight to the destroyed zone for the earthquake in Lima Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Government Palace Press Office via AP)
The banks of the Huallaga River are cracked after an earthquake in Puerto Santa Gema, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck this remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
The corner of a building was destroyed by an earthquake in Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck this remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
A clinic is damaged after an earthquake in Huatapi, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
A clinic is damaged after an earthquake in Huatapi, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
In this photo provided by Firefighters of Peru, people pass in front destroyed wall in Yurimaguas Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Firefighters of Peru via AP)
A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake has struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru,;
In this photo courtesy of Hoy Noticias media, cracks caused by an earthquake affect a road in San Martin, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Hoy Noticias via AP)
An aerial view shows a landslide caused by a quake in Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool Photo via AP)
An aerial view shows a landslide caused by a quake in Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool Photo via AP)
Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra, second from right, arrives to the airport after checking earthquake-related damage by air as he arrives to Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool Photo via AP)
Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra, second from right, arrives to the airport after checking earthquake-related damage by air as he arrives to Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool Photo via AP)
In this photo courtesy of Hoy Noticias media, a road is left cracked after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in San Martin, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. The powerful quake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Hoy Noticias via AP)
In this photo courtesy of Hoy Noticias media, a road is left cracked after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in San Martin, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. The powerful quake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Hoy Noticias via AP)
In this photo provided by Firefighters of Peru, debris covers a street after an earthquake in Yurimaguas Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Firefighters of Peru via AP)
In this photo provided by Firefighters of Peru, debris covers a street after an earthquake in Yurimaguas Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Firefighters of Peru via AP)
In this photo provided by the Government Palace Press Office, Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra, speaks with the press before flight to the destroyed zone for the earthquake in Lima Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Government Palace Press Office via AP)
In this photo provided by the Government Palace Press Office, Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra, speaks with the press before flight to the destroyed zone for the earthquake in Lima Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Government Palace Press Office via AP)
The banks of the Huallaga River are cracked after an earthquake in Puerto Santa Gema, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck this remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
The banks of the Huallaga River are cracked after an earthquake in Puerto Santa Gema, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck this remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
The corner of a building was destroyed by an earthquake in Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck this remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
The corner of a building was destroyed by an earthquake in Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck this remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
A clinic is damaged after an earthquake in Huatapi, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
A clinic is damaged after an earthquake in Huatapi, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
A clinic is damaged after an earthquake in Huatapi, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
A clinic is damaged after an earthquake in Huatapi, on the outskirts of Yurimaguas, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Guadalupe Pardo/Pool photo via AP)
In this photo provided by Firefighters of Peru, people pass in front destroyed wall in Yurimaguas Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Firefighters of Peru via AP)
In this photo provided by Firefighters of Peru, people pass in front destroyed wall in Yurimaguas Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Firefighters of Peru via AP)
In this photo courtesy of Hoy Noticias media, cracks caused by an earthquake affect a road in San Martin, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Hoy Noticias via AP)
In this photo courtesy of Hoy Noticias media, cracks caused by an earthquake affect a road in San Martin, Peru, Sunday, May 26, 2019. A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas. (Hoy Noticias via AP)
LIMA, Peru (AP) — A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas but causing only one reported death.
The quake struck at 2:41 a.m. and was centered in a vast nature preserve 57 miles (92 kilometers) east of the small town of Yurimaguas. Helping limit damage was the earthquake’s depth, at 70 miles (114 kilometers) below the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Earthquakes that are close to the surface generally cause more destruction.
President Martín Vizcarra called for calm before traveling to the zone with members of his cabinet to survey the damage. He said first reports indicate a bridge had collapsed and several homes and roads had been affected.
“It’s a quake that was felt throughout the Peruvian jungle,” said Vizcarra, who was scheduled to host a regional summit Sunday in the capital with the presidents of Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador.
Ricardo Seijas, chief of the National Emergency Operations Center, said one person died when a rock fell on a house in the Huarango district.
A preliminary survey by authorities found that six people were injured and 27 homes damaged across seven provinces. Three schools, three hospitals and two churches were also affected
In Yurimaguas, a bridge and several old houses collapsed, and the electricity was cut, according to the National Emergency Operations Center.
Images circulating on social media showed residents in several parts of the country panicked as the quake shook buildings.
The quake also awoke people in Lima, who ran out of their homes in fear.
“It was a really long quake,” said Maria Brito, who lives on the fifth floor of an apartment building in the capital. “It could’ve been worse, and luckily it’s over.”
Earthquakes are frequent in Peru, which lies on the Pacific’s so-called Ring of Fire. On August 15, 2007, a similarly sized quake struck near Lima, killing more than 500 people.