A powerful earthquake tore through Peru's Andes region over the weekend ... leaving at least five people dead, more than 20 injured and hundreds forced from their homes, authorities say.

Officials say the 5.5-magnitude quake struck Saturday night near the city of Sicaya in central Peru at a shallow depth of about 6 miles, triggering widespread damage across the region.

Authorities say several buildings partially collapsed, including a church and convent, while homes in some of the hardest-hit farming communities were reduced to rubble. Images from local TV showed residents huddled outside overnight as emergency crews searched damaged neighborhoods.

Peru's National Civil Defense Institute says at least 300 people have been displaced, and officials are still working to determine how many people remain missing.

The country sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," one of the world's most seismically active regions, making earthquakes a frequent threat. In 2007, a devastating 7.9-magnitude quake killed nearly 600 people in southern Peru.