1960 Valdivia earthquake
Collapsed buildings in Valdivia | |
| UTC time | 1960-05-22 19:11:14 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 879136 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 22 May 1960 |
| Local time | 15:11:14 |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| Magnitude | 9.5–9.6 Mw |
| Depth | 25 km (16 mi) |
| Epicenter | 38°14′S 73°03′W / 38.24°S 73.05°W |
| Type | Megathrust |
| Areas affected | Chile, Pacific Rim |
| Max. intensity | MMI XII (Extreme) |
| Peak acceleration | 2.93 g |
| Peak velocity | 311 cm/s |
| Tsunami | Up to 25 m (82 ft) |
| Landslides | Yes |
| Casualties | 1,000–6,000 |
The 1960 Valdivia earthquake and tsunami (Spanish: Terremoto de Valdivia) or the Great Chilean earthquake (Gran terremoto de Chile) occurred on 22 May 1960. Most studies have placed it at 9.5–9.6 on the moment magnitude scale, while some studies have placed the magnitude lower than 9.4, making it the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. It occurred in the afternoon (19:11:14 GMT, 15:11:14 local time), and lasted 10 minutes. The resulting tsunamis affected southern Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, eastern New Zealand, southeast Australia, and the Aleutian Islands.
The epicenter of this megathrust earthquake was near Lumaco, approximately 570 kilometres (350 mi) south of Santiago, with Valdivia being the most affected city. The tremor caused localised tsunamis that severely battered the Chilean coast, with waves up to 25 metres (82 ft). The main tsunami traveled across the Pacific Ocean and devastated Hilo, Hawaii, where waves as high as 10.7 metres (35 ft) were recorded over 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) from the epicenter.
The death toll and monetary losses arising from this widespread disaster are not certain. Various estimates of the total number of fatalities from the earthquake and tsunamis have surfaced, ranging between 1,000 and 6,000 killed. Different sources have estimated the monetary cost ranged from US$400 million to $800 million (or US$4.3 billion to $8.5 billion in 2024, adjusted for inflation).