A powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit northeastern Peru on Sunday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

The temblor struck 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Lagunas, Peru, at a depth of 71 miles (115 km) below the earth’s surface.

The USGS issued a yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses.

“Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be relatively localized,” the USGS stated. “Past yellow alerts have required a local or regional level response.”

The quake struck around 180 km east of the town on of Moyobamba, the capital of the San Martín region in northern Peru, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS)

It is also understood to have reached a depth of around 105 km.

The earthquake was originally registered as a 7.5 magnitude tremor, but has since been upgraded to a 8.0 quake on the Richter Scale.

An 8.0 magnitude earthquake is incredibly powerful and can be felt 150 miles away from the epicentre.

It has the power to cause buildings to collapse, and damage even the soundest of structures.

The natural disaster is understood to have been felt in neighbouring countries in South America including Brazil according to residents in Peru.

One user wrote on Twitter: “The earthquake struck Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Peru due to the magnitude was similar in those countries.”

At this stage it unclear at the extent of damage caused of if there have been any causalities.

However according to the USGS, an earthquake of this magnitude could cause “considerable” damage in places.

The USGS says a magnitude 8 earthquake can: “Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse.

“Damage great in poorly built structures.

“Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.”