A Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Lima, Peru, was dramatically interrupted when a powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the nation’s central coast, shaking the capital and the nearby port province of Callao.
Cardinal Carlos Castillo had just completed the first major portion of the service and was receiving offerings from worshipers when the tremor struck at 11:35 a.m. local time (4:35 p.m. GMT). Many in the congregation remained seated, visibly alarmed, while others rushed out of the church in panic. Despite the shock, no injuries or structural damage were reported at the cathedral.
TV Perú, which was broadcasting the Mass live, quickly cut away from the interior to show scenes from the surrounding streets. The choir continued singing as the cathedral trembled, and one of the readers urged calm from the pulpit: “Please remain calm, dear brothers and sisters. Stay in your seats, the cathedral is a safe space.” Cardinal Castillo resumed the rite once the immediate tension had eased.
Elsewhere in the city, an evangelical service was also caught in the quake. In video clips shared online, a pastor could be heard praying aloud: “Stronger, Father, stronger!” as the church shook around her.
Pastor Nelida Rojas, who was leading the service, interpreted the tremor as a sign from above and urged her congregation to remain inside and continue worshiping. “That means that our Heavenly Father is working! Don't be afraid,” she said.
Footage of the service, filmed live by parishioners expecting a typical Sunday gathering, quickly went viral. The congregation’s response ranged from applause to fervent praise, tinged with unease. No one left their seat. Some clapped, while others raised their hands in worship.
The earthquake caused damage across both Lima and Callao, leaving one man dead and at least five others injured.
Police reported that the 36-year-old victim had been standing outside his vehicle in northern Lima when part of a fourth-floor wall from a nearby construction site collapsed, fatally striking him. Emergency services said five others were taken to the hospital with injuries and noted that roads and school buildings had also sustained damage.
Images broadcast by local media showed widespread destruction, including cracked buildings, fallen billboards, and vehicles crushed by debris.
Peru lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.