M6.0 earthquake near San Miguel, Puno

What happened

A magnitude 6 earthquake struck 6 km ENE of Achaya, Peru on 21 May 1979, 22:22 UTC at a depth of 208 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is San Miguel, about 26 km away in Puno, Peru.