Strong M6.0 Earthquake hit near Nazca in Peru on Saturday Night.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 17th, 2025. Last updated June 17th, 2025.

In the early morning of Saturday May 17th, 2025, a strong MAG-6.0 earthquake hit under land 85 kilometer from Nazca in Peru. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 1.8 million people.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Peru, 85 kilometer (53 mi) east of Nazca in Ica. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 101 km.

Date and Time:	May 17, 2025 05:22 (Lima Time) - May 17, 2025 10:22 Universal Time.
Location:	85 km east of Nazca, Ica, Peru. Coordinates 14°46'1"S 74°8'55"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.0 Detected by 60 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.04 .
Depth:	101 km (63 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

At least 29 homes damaged, 1 building destroyed and 24 buildings damaged; power and communication outages reported in Lucanas.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 1.8 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 1.8 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

An estimated 12,290 people were exposed to level V. At this level, moderate shaking and very light damage can be expected. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 0.9 million). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Peru .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
881,500	III	Weak	Probably none
899,500	IV	Light	Likely none
12,290	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Peru . Located 85 kilometer (53 mi) east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Nazca (Ica, Peru) is the nearest significant population center. Nazca experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Arequipa is located 334 km to the east-southeast (intensity unknown, possibly low). Ica is located 187 km to the west-northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Huancayo is located 321 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
85 km (53 mi) W from epicenter	Nazca Ica, Peru.	IV Light
115 km (71 mi) WSW from epicenter	Minas de Marcona Ica, Peru.	IV Light
148 km (92 mi) NNE from epicenter	Andahuaylas Apurímac, Peru.	IV Light
179 km (111 mi) N from epicenter	Ayacucho Ayacucho, Peru.	III Weak
186 km (116 mi) NE from epicenter	Abancay Apurímac, Peru.	III Weak
187 km (116 mi) WNW from epicenter	Ica Ica, Peru.	IV Light
204 km (127 mi) N from epicenter	Huanta Ayacucho, Peru.
238 km (148 mi) NNW from epicenter	Huancavelica Huancavelica, Peru.
248 km (154 mi) WNW from epicenter	San Clemente Ica, Peru.
251 km (156 mi) WNW from epicenter	Pisco Ica, Peru.
258 km (160 mi) SE from epicenter	Camaná Arequipa, Peru.
262 km (163 mi) NW from epicenter	Chincha Alta Ica, Peru.
262 km (163 mi) NE from epicenter	Santa Ana Cusco, Peru.
271 km (168 mi) ENE from epicenter	Santiago Cusco, Peru.
273 km (170 mi) ENE from epicenter	Cusco Cusco, Peru.
273 km (170 mi) ENE from epicenter	Wanchaq Cusco, Peru.
275 km (171 mi) SE from epicenter	El Pedregal Arequipa, Peru.
294 km (183 mi) E from epicenter	Yauri Cusco, Peru.
300 km (186 mi) NW from epicenter	Nuevo Imperial Lima Region, Peru.
304 km (189 mi) NW from epicenter	Imperial Lima Region, Peru.
306 km (190 mi) NW from epicenter	San Vicente de Cañete Lima Region, Peru.
319 km (198 mi) NNW from epicenter	Chilca Junin, Peru.
319 km (198 mi) E from epicenter	Sicuani Cusco, Peru.
321 km (199 mi) NNW from epicenter	Huancayo Junin, Peru.
325 km (202 mi) ESE from epicenter	Cono Norte Arequipa, Peru.
333 km (207 mi) ESE from epicenter	Selva Alegre Arequipa, Peru.
334 km (208 mi) ESE from epicenter	Jacobo Hunter Arequipa, Peru.
334 km (208 mi) ESE from epicenter	Arequipa Arequipa, Peru.
336 km (209 mi) ESE from epicenter	Ciudad Satelite Arequipa, Peru.
339 km (211 mi) SE from epicenter	Mollendo Arequipa, Peru.
356 km (221 mi) NW from epicenter	Mala Lima Region, Peru.
363 km (226 mi) NNW from epicenter	Jauja Junin, Peru.
383 km (238 mi) E from epicenter	Ayaviri Puno, Peru.
394 km (245 mi) N from epicenter	Satipo Junin, Peru.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is V.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 31 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 31 people have reported shaking in 7 places, all within Peru.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Puquío, Ayacucho, Peru: 15 people.
Ica, Ica, Peru: 6 people.
Santiago, Ica, Peru: 3 people.
Subtanjalla, Ica, Peru: 3 people.
Pisco, Ica, Peru: 2 people.
Lima, Lima Provincias, Peru: 1 person.
Cusco, Cusco, Peru: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

This earthquake did not have any significant foreshocks nor aftershocks occurring within 100km (62 mi) of its epicenter.

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since June 29th, 2024, when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 149 km (93 mi) further south-southwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck on June 28th, 2024.

In total, 6 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 2 years.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 6. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 101 km (63 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 17/06/25 13:48 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.