The quake struck 129 kilometers (80 miles) east-northeast of the city of Cusco at 3:49 pm (2049 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. It had a depth of 41.5 kilometers.

Peru's Geophysical Institute said it was the fourth and most powerful reported across the country on Sunday.

But the depth of the quake meant that it was nearly imperceptible for the 350,000 residents of the ancient Inca capital, local radio and television reported.

Peru is located in the Pacific "ring of fire," where about 85 percent of global seismic activity occurs each year.