A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Peru early Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The quake struck five miles west of Arequipa at 12:36 a.m. local time, the U.S.G.S. said. Peruvian authorities issued a tsunami alert on the country’s coast and warned that waves could reach the town of Puerto Atico by 12:52 a.m. local time.

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