June 22, 1981 Earthquake: Central, Peru
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Central, Peru on June 22, 1981 at 17:53:21 UTC, 24 km below the surface. It killed 10 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- June 22, 1981
- Time
- 17:53:21 UTC
- Place
- Central, Peru
- Magnitude
- 5.2 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 24 km (15 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 13.166° S, 74.522° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Deaths
- 10
- Injuries
- Some (about 51 to 100)
- Damage
- $5 million
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Reference #1250 lists $5 million damage, 10 deaths.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 12, 1664, Ica, Pisco, Peru
- October 1, 1969, Huaytapallana, Lampa, Chilifruta, Peru
- December 18, 1594, Ica, Peru
- March 30, 1813, Ica, Peru
- April 18, 1981, Ayacucho, Peru
- November 12, 1980, S Central, Peru
- December 24, 1959, Ayacucho,pomabamba,moyobamba,huahuapuquio, Peru
- July 19, 2026, Junin, Peru
- October 15, 1971, Apurimac, Peru
- December 10, 1950, Ica,chimbote,huaraz,cajamarca,cuzco,moquegua, Peru
- March 28, 1982, Coast, Lunahuana, Lima, Huancayo, Peru
- October 31, 1999, Chuschi, Cangallo, Huancapi, Peru
- September 23, 2024, Ayacucho, Peru
- February 23, 1907, Peru
- April 13, 1861, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1981The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1981Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 4922.