BREAKING: Peru earthquake sparks mine collapse - 17 feared missing
Peru has been rocked by an earthquake which has killed two people, injured dozens and sparked a mine collapse leading to a massive search and rescue operation, reports say.
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake with an epicentre in Lomas, Arequipa region, struck on Sunday leading to fears a tsunami would follow.
Peru's Civil Defense Institute (INDECI) said 65 are injured after the natural disaster which struck at 4:18 am local time (0918 GMT).
The quake hit offshore at a depth of around 36 km (22.4 miles), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
Its epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean 40 km from the town of Acari.
"There are several homes affected and it is possible that the count of victims and injured will rise," Jorge Chavez, INDECI chief said.
Homes have collapsed, electricity is out and a mine is believed to have caved and 17 are missing.
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Peru's health minister said an informal mine east of the coastal city of Chala collapsed.
Peruvian maritime authorities said the quake did not produce a tsunami on the Peruvian coast, despite early warnings.
Peru is the world’s No. 2 copper producer, although many of the mines in the south are located far inland from the coastal region where the quake struck. A representative of Southern Copper Corp said there were no reports of damage at its Cuajone and Toquepala mines in the regions of Moguegua and Tacna.
Jesus Revilla, a union leader at the Cerro Verde copper mine in Arequipa, said there were no reports that operations had been affected.
The quake was also felt in northern Chile, Peru’s southern neighbour. Chile’s National Emergency offices said there were no reports of injuries, damage to infrastructure, or interruption of basic services. Chile’s navy said the quake did not meet the conditions that would produce a tsunami off its coast.
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