Magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits near coast of Peru,tsunami threat

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 has hit off the coast of Peru, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake triggered a tsunami threat to parts of the Pacific close to the epicenter, according to the National Weather Service.

The quake struck 42 kilometers (26 miles) south-southwest of Acari at 0918 GMT on Sunday, USGS reported.

There are up to 10 million people in the area where the quake was felt, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).

The organization notes that the area has a low population density, but villages “may have suffered direct damage, and triggered landslides are always a risk.” It puts the strength of the earthquake at 7.2 magnitude and says it hit at a depth of 30km.