9.5
1960 Valdivia Earthquake
1960-05-22 — Near Valdivia, southern Chile
The most powerful earthquake ever recorded in human history, the Great Chilean Earthquake ruptured over 1,000 kilometers of fault line along the Chilean coast. The resulting tsunami crossed the Pacific Ocean, causing death and destruction in Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines hours after the initial quake. The earthquake also triggered landslides and the eruption of Cordón Caulle volcano, reshaping the landscape of southern Chile.
Magnitude
9.5
Depth
33 km
Shallow
Fatalities
5,700
Damage
$4.8 billion
| Date | 1960-05-22 |
| Epicenter | 38.143°S, 73.407°W |
| Intensity | XI (Extreme) |
| Tsunami | Yes (max 25m) |
| Injuries | 3,000 |