Strong earthquake hits Peru

LIMA - An earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale hit southern Peru Monday, authorities said.

The Geophysics Institute of Peru (IGP) said that the earthquake occurred at 12.53 p.m. local time (1753 GMT) with epicentre some 74 km west of Pisco and at a depth of 35 km.

The earthquake was felt in the cities of Lima and Callao.

The director of the seismology department from the IGP, Hernando Tavera said that it was an earthquake of moderate intensity, which could have caused damage in urban zones.

So far there has been no report of casualties or damage caused by the tremor.