IGP Reports 4.5 Magnitude Earthquake Off the Coast of Sechura in Peru

Seismic Activity Off the Coast of Piura

The earthquake struck the northern coast of Peru on Saturday afternoon, according to data from the Instituto Geofísico del Perú. Located 52 kilometers southwest of Sechura, the tremor occurred at a depth of 35 kilometers with a latitude of -5.80, -81.22. Both the Dirección de Hidrografía y Navegación of the Peruvian Navy and the Instituto Oceanográfico de la Armada (Inocar) confirmed that the magnitude of the event was insufficient to generate a tsunami along the coastline.

Regional Context and Earthquake Preparedness

Peru sits within the Cinturón de Fuego del Pacífico, a region characterized by intense tectonic activity where the Nazca Plate continuously subducts beneath the South American Plate at an average speed of several centimeters per year. This geological process results in frequent seismic events across the national territory, and the Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP) monitors this activity uninterruptedly to alert the population and risk management agencies.

While daily tremors of low to moderate magnitude are common, officials emphasize that the country remains exposed to the potential for much larger earthquakes. In the highlands and jungle, cortical or superficial earthquakes occur due to the reactivation of local geological faults at depths of less than 30 kilometers. Regions such as Arequipa, Cusco, Junín, and San Martín have active fault systems under constant technical monitoring. For example, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake recently occurred in the province of Chupaca, Junín.

Emergency Protocols and Infrastructure Risks

Given the latent threat, government agencies continue to promote emergency preparedness, including the use of emergency backpacks and the identification of safe zones. The Ministry of Transport and Communications manages the 119 emergency messaging service to prevent mobile network collapse. To record a message, users dial 119, option 1, then the family member’s cell phone number; to listen, they dial 119, option 2, and the number of the person who left the audio. Residents are advised to prioritize these channels or short text messages over standard voice calls.

Regarding tsunami protocols, the Dirección de Hidrografía y Navegación (DHN) of the Peruvian Navy evaluates events in real time. If an earthquake exceeds magnitude 7.0 and causes vertical displacement of the seabed, a tsunami alert is activated. Coastal populations are advised to evacuate to high ground immediately if a quake makes it difficult to stand, without waiting for official confirmation.

Beyond the immediate impact of ground shaking, the risk of soil liquefaction poses a significant threat to infrastructure. This phenomenon occurs when water-saturated, loose, or sandy soils lose their strength during an earthquake, causing them to behave temporarily as a liquid. This can lead to the sinking or tilting of buildings and roads, particularly in coastal districts built on landfills, former wetlands, or loose sands.

Global Seismic Activity Comparison

The recent tremor in Peru occurred amid a period of heightened seismic activity in several other regions. According to reporting, Colombia experienced a 7.4-magnitude earthquake days prior, while Venezuela suffered a double earthquake more than a month earlier that left thousands of victims. In Asia, Indonesia recorded two significant quakes measuring 7.7 and 6.9 within 12 hours between Friday, August 14, and Saturday, August 15, leaving around 50 victims. Additionally, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit the Granada region of Spain, and a magnitude 3.9 event occurred at Etna, Italy. Despite these concurrent events, the Instituto Geofísico noted that there is no scientific connection between the earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela and the possibility of a similar event in Ecuador, reminding the public that earthquakes cannot be predicted.