Lima, Peru—A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of central Peru on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said, with tsunami waves expected along some coastlines.
The USGS said the tremor hit 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles) from Atiquipa district, raising an initial magnitude rating soon after the quake was reported.
The USGS said that strong shaking from the quake would have been felt in areas near the epicenter.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had earlier said “hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts” but later said the threat had passed.
Peru, with some 33 million inhabitants, lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast area of intense seismic activity that runs along the west coast of the Americas.
The country is hit by hundreds of detectable quakes every year.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) on Friday, meanwhile, said there are “no tsunami threats” in the country after a magnitude of 7.0 struck near the coast of Peru.
The quake jolted areas near the coast of Central Peru, 1:37 P.M. on Friday. —With Rex Espiritu