One dead in Peru quake, dozens injured

A powerful quake has killed one person in Peru and left 65 others injured.

A large earthquake off southern Peru has caused homes and roads to collapse and killed one person. (AAP)

A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck off Peru's coast, killing at least one person and sending homes tumbling in small, rural towns, officials say.

One man died when he was crushed by falling rock, officials said on Sunday, while many of the 65 injured were in Caraveli province, a coastal area dependent on fishing, mining and tourism.

The earthquake destroyed 171 homes, displacing the same number of families, Peru's National Emergency Operations Center said on its website Sunday night.

Emergency crews were bringing in tents and mattresses to help displaced families, officials said.

"Everything that is needed is going to be sent," President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said. "We are already responding at full speed."

The US Geological Survey said the early morning quake had a magnitude of 7.1 and was centred 40 kilometers from Acari in the Arequipa department of southwestern Peru.

The quake was felt as far away as the capital city of Lima, some 560km from Acari.