Strong 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Peru, Knocks Out Power

Richter Magnitude 6.9 – NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL PERU
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 01:54:33 PM at epicenter
14.515°S, 76.009°W
Depth: 23.9 km (14.9 miles)

“A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the west coast of Peru, rattling residents in cities still recovering from a temblor that killed more than 500 people in 2007. No fatalities were immediately reported.

The temblor knocked out power and sent people running from their homes near its center 178 miles (286 kilometers) south- southeast of Lima. In Ica, which was devastated by the magnitude-8 quake in 2007, a cathedral wall and church tower collapsed, along with several mud brick buildings, said Juan Carlos Romani, a spokesman for the city council.

‘It was very strong but quick,’ said Romani in a telephone interview from Ica, adding that there were no reports of injuries, though power and phone service hadn’t fully returned. ‘It lasted ten seconds at most but was very violent.’

In Lima, buildings shook for about a minute, and had to be evacuated amid aftershocks, though no damage was immediately reported in the capital.” Read more.