One dead from magnitude eight earthquake in Peru

A magnitude eight earthquake has struck north-central Peru, killing one person.

The quake struck on Sunday. Source: Getty

A magnitude eight earthquake killed one person, destroyed dozens of homes and disrupted some oil operations in Peru, local authorities said.

The tremors were felt across the country and in neighbouring Ecuador and Colombia after striking the sparsely-populated region of Loreto in Peru's northern Amazon early on Sunday.

The quake hit at a moderate depth of 114km. 

Earthquakes that are close to the surface generally cause more destruction.

In the capital, Lima, people ran out of their homes in fear.

Power cuts were reported in a number of Amazonian cities.

Earthquakes are frequent in Peru, which lies on the Pacific's so-called Ring of Fire.