A powerful earthquake struck off Peru’s coast, tumbling homes in small, rural towns, killing at least one person and leaving dozens injured, officials said. The earthquake destroyed 63 homes, displacing about 130 people, and it injured 65 people, Peru’s chief of civil defence Jorge Chavez said. The US Geological Survey said the early morning quake had a magnitude of 7.1 and was centred 25 miles from Acari in the Arequipa department of southwestern Peru. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially warned of that hazardous waves could hit Peru and Chile, but later stated there was no longer any tsunami threat from the quake. The quake caused some damage in communities that Pope Francis will visit this week, but officials say it will not change the pontiff’s tour.

Source: Evening echo January 14, 2018 21:33 UTC