A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 magnitude has hit southern Peru.

The magnitude-7.1 quake hit at 4:18am (local time) on Sunday at a depth of around 10 km, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Peru's government Geophysical Institute said the earthquake on Sunday was of magnitude 6.7 with its epicentre in Lomas, reports the ABC news.

Arequipa governor Yamila Osorio said on Twitter that 20 "light injuries" were reported in the town of Cacha

There was minor material damage including some collapsed roads and houses and people in Lomas have been evacuated.

Earlier, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of "hazardous tsunami waves" saying there was a threat to some coasts of Peru and neighbouring Chile.

But a later message said "there is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake" and that the centre had not observed any tsunami waves.

BDST: 1845 HRS, JAN 14, 2018
AP