Magnitude 4.8 earthquake shakes southern Peru and Lima: scare with no damages

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 shook the southern region and Metropolitan Lima, causing moments of fear and concern among the inhabitants of the area. Despite the intensity of the earthquake, fortunately there were no personal or material damages reported. The epicenter of this seismic event was located very close to the district of Chilca, in the province of Cañete, at a depth of 50 kilometers, as reported by the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP). The seismic movement, which occurred at 12:34 hours, was moderately felt in several districts of the province of Cañete, as well as in the capital, Metropolitan Lima. Despite the initial concern, the Hydrography Directorate of the Peruvian Navy ruled out the possibility of a tsunami on the Peruvian coast as a consequence of this earthquake. In response to the population's concerns, Hernando Tavera, head of the IGP, explained that the central coast of the country is an area of high seismic activity due to the collision of the Nazca and South American plates. He recalled previous seismic events, such as the Pisco earthquake in 2007, to contextualize the current situation and called for calm among the population. The National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci) issued standard recommendations in these cases: remain calm, follow the authorities' instructions, and have an emergency backpack prepared. Likewise, they urged participation in scheduled drills throughout the year to strengthen preparedness for eventualities of this kind. The National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) is monitoring the situation in Chilca in coordination with local and regional authorities to ensure that there are no further consequences after the earthquake. At the time of writing this note, no significant damages had been reported, which is good news for the population affected by this earthquake. In conclusion, despite the initial scare, the quick response of the authorities and the population's preparedness for seismic events contributed to the magnitude 4.8 earthquake not causing serious consequences in the southern region and Metropolitan Lima. It is important to continue strengthening prevention and response measures in emergency situations to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens in times of crisis like these.