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6.3 earthquake hit the central coastline of Peru

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An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 hit Peru’s central coastline, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says.

The quake hit just after midnight (05:00 GMT) with its epicenter some 15 km (nine miles) south-east of the city of Ica, which suffered extensive earthquake damage in 2007.

Monday’s quake struck at a depth of 39 km (24 miles), the USGS said.

Peruvian media report that more than a dozen people have been injured.

“The majority are suffering trauma and cuts,” Fernando Leon Castaneda, manager of a local hospital, told Radio Programas del Peru.

Reports from Ica said electricity supplies had gone off but so far there are no reports of major damage.

The province of Ica was struck by a 7.9-magnitude undersea earthquake in 2007 that left thousands homeless.