Homes destroyed and several dead after major earthquake

Several people have died, and others are trapped in rubble after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook Peru last night.

The quake was detected at a depth of almost 14 miles beneath the surface at 9.24pm near Chupaca, Peru.

Shockwaves have continued to shake the region in recent hours as victims plead with authorities for support.

Photos on the ground have shown stone buildings turned into rubble, with dead cattle and other animals beneath the destruction.

Four people are dead, and others are searching for shelter, with temperatures of only 4 degrees celcius.

In the town of Chongos Bajo, a 500-year-old stone statue crashed down into the town’s plaza.

Cani Cruz is the focal point of an annual pilgrimage from Huancayo to Chongos Bajo.

Local authorities are working to assess damage and rescue those trapped beneath the rubble.

The quake comes weeks after a deadly earthquake rocked Venezuela, with over 50,000 people still missing.

The rare double strike, which were 39 seconds apart, was the strongest since 1900, according to the US Geological Survey.

Buildings were reduced to rubble while videos showed people fleeing violently shaking areas.

Thousands of people have been left homeless as a result.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.