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Magnitude-4 quake hits off Ancash, northern Peru

District of Nuevo Chimbote, located in northern Peru

District of Nuevo Chimbote, located in northern Peru's Ancash region.

11:12 | Lima, Jul. 25.

An earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale jolted the coastal city of Chimbote in Peru's northern Ancash region early Friday.
Peru's Geophysical Institure, or IGP, said the tremor struck at 06:43 local time (11:43 GMT) and went unnoticed by the local population.

Seismologists reported the quake's epicenter was located at about 74 kilometers (45.9 miles) southwest of Chimbote, at a depth of 37 kilometers (22.9 miles) offshore.

According to Civil Defense authorities, there have been no reports of damage to buildings or injuries so far from the quake.

Peru lies in the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, which is the site of 85 percent of global seismic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates.

(END) LIT/LOG

Published: 7/25/2014