96 injured after earthquake hits coastal Peru

Lima, Peru (CNN) -- Civil defense officials reported nearly 100 injuries after a strong earthquake shook coastal Peru early Monday.

The magnitude 6.3 quake hit about 15 kilometers (9 miles) southeast of Ica, at a depth of 39.2 kilometers (24.4 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said.

At least 96 people were injured in the quake, state-run TV Peru reported, citing civil defense officials. Police were patrolling the area while officials assessed damages, TV Peru said. At least one home was uninhabitable and two others were damaged, the state television station reported.
Hotels in the area reported brief power outages but no damage.

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the same region in October, leveling dozens of buildings and leaving some homeless.

In 2007, an 8.0-magnitude quake struck southwestern Peru, killing more than 500 people and injuring more than 1,000.
The most serious damage from that quake occurred in towns and cities along the country's Pacific coast south of Lima, including Chincha, Canete, Pisco and Ica.