1868day.year
The 8.5–9.0 Mw Arica earthquake struck southern Peru with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), causing 25,000+ deaths and a destructive basin wide tsunami that affected Hawaii and New Zealand.
The 1868 Arica earthquake, one of history’s most powerful, struck southern Peru and triggered a transoceanic tsunami, killing over 25,000 people.
On August 13, 1868, a massive magnitude 8.5–9.0 Mw earthquake devastated the port city of Arica in southern Peru.
With a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), the quake reduced entire settlements to rubble.
The seismic event generated a basin-wide tsunami that swept across the Pacific.
Waves reaching Hawaii and New Zealand caused additional destruction abroad.
More than 25,000 lives were lost in Peru alone, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes of the 19th century.
The disaster spurred improvements in seismic research and early tsunami warning methods.
It remains a powerful reminder of the far-reaching impact of tectonic events.
1868
Arica earthquake
Peru
Mercalli intensity
tsunami