Earthquakes in Peru are common occurrences as the country is located in a seismic zone. The interface between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates is located near the Peruvian coast. The South American Plate is moving over the Nazca Plate at a rate of 77 mm (3.0 in) per year. Thus, earthquakes occur as thrust faulting on the interface between the two plates, with the South American Plate moving towards the sea over the Nazca Plate. The same process has caused the rise of the Andes mountain range and the creation of the Peru-Chile Trench as well as volcanism in the Peruvian highlands.
Notable earthquakes in Peruvian history include the following:
| Date | Epicentre | M | Notes | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1586000000001586 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 1604000000001604 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 16190214000014 February 1619 | 7°24′S 80°32′W / 7.4°S 80.54°W / -7.4; -80.54 La Libertad Region, Lambayeque Region, Piura Region |
8.6 | 7,364 | |
| 1687000000001687 | 15°12′S 75°54′W / 15.2°S 75.9°W / -15.2; -75.9 Seabed off Ica Region |
8.7 | See 1687 Peru earthquake | 5,000 |
| 1725010600006 January 1725 | 8°06′S 79°29′W / 8.10°S 79.49°W / -8.10; -79.49 La Libertad Region |
7.6 | 5,000 | |
| 17461028000028 October 1746 | 11°21′S 77°17′W / 11.35°S 77.28°W / -11.35; -77.28 Lima Region, Callao Region |
8.7 | See 1746 Lima-Callao earthquake | ca. 6,000 |
| 1865000000001865 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 20050925000013 August 1868 | 18°30′S 70.35°0′W / 18.5°S 70.35°W / -18.5; -70.35 Tacna Region, Arica |
9.0 | See 1868 Arica earthquake | 25,000 |
| 1914120200004 November 1913 | 13°32′S 73°54′W / 13.54°S 73.9°W / -13.54; -73.9 Apurímac Region |
6.5 | 253 | |
| 1914120200002 December 1914 | 15°14′S 73°21′W / 15.23°S 73.35°W / -15.23; -73.35 Ayacucho Region |
6.7 | 400 | |
| 19170521000021 May 1917 | 15°20′S 73°16′W / 15.33°S 73.27°W / -15.33; -73.27 Arequipa Region |
6.1 | 32 | |
| 19280514000014 May 1928 | 6°48′S 78°31′W / 6.8°S 78.51°W / -6.8; -78.51 Cajamarca Region, Amazonas Region |
7.6 | See 1928 Chachapoyas earthquake | 1,928 |
| 19371224000024 December 1937 | 10°06′S 74°31′W / 10.10°S 74.51°W / -10.10; -74.51 Pasco Region |
6.8 | 194 | |
| 19400524000024 May 1940 | 11°13′S 77°47′W / 11.22°S 77.79°W / -11.22; -77.79 Lima Region, Callao Region |
7.3 | 562 | |
| 19420824000024 August 1942 | 15°12′S 75°18′W / 15.20°S 75.3°W / -15.20; -75.3 Ica Region |
7.5 | See 1942 Peru earthquake | 40 |
| 19430130000030 January 1943 | 14°42′S 71°22′W / 14.7°S 71.36°W / -14.7; -71.36 Cuzco Region |
6.5 | 252 | |
| 19461110174210 November 1946 | 8°12′S 77°30′W / 8.20°S 77.50°W / -8.20; -77.50 Ancash Region |
7.3 | 2,400 | |
| 1947110100001 November 1947 | 11°08′S 74°06′W / 11.13°S 74.10°W / -11.13; -74.10 Junin Region |
7.6 | 1,242 | |
| 19500521000021 May 1950 | 13°20′S 71°25′W / 13.33°S 71.41°W / -13.33; -71.41 Cuzco Region |
7.0 | 1,625 | |
| 19531212000012 December 1953 | 3°24′S 80°36′W / 3.40°S 80.60°W / -3.40; -80.60 Tumbes Region |
7.5 | See 1953 Tumbes earthquake | |
| 19580115000015 January 1958 | 16°30′S 72°00′W / 16.50°S 72.00°W / -16.50; -72.00 Arequipa Region |
7.0 | 69 | |
| 19600113000013 January 1960 | 16°08′S 72°08′W / 16.14°S 72.14°W / -16.14; -72.14 Arequipa Region |
6.2 | 100 | |
| 19601120000020 November 1960 | 6°42′S 80°37′W / 6.70°S 80.62°W / -6.70; -80.62 Northern Peru |
7.8 | See November 1960 Peru earthquake | |
| 19961017000017 October 1966 | 10°43′S 78°42′W / 10.72°S 78.70°W / -10.72; -78.70 Lima Region |
6.4 | See 1966 Peru earthquake | ca. 100 |
| 1969100100001 October 1969 | 11°27′S 77°42′W / 11.45°S 77.7°W / -11.45; -77.7 Junin Region |
6.9 | 635 | |
| 19701209000014 February 1970 | 9°25′S 75°28′W / 9.42°S 75.46°W / -9.42; -75.46 Huanuco Region |
6.1 | 14 | |
| 19700531000031 May 1970 | 9°12′S 78°48′W / 9.2°S 78.8°W / -9.2; -78.8 35 km (22 mi) west of Chimbote |
7.9 | See 1970 Ancash earthquake | 100,000 |
| 1970120900009 December 1970 | 4°08′S 80°26′W / 4.13°S 80.44°W / -4.13; -80.44 Piura Region, Tumbes Region |
7.5 | Massive damage and hundreds of victims in Sullana, Piura and Tumbes. Licuefaction and landslides occurred in Peru-Ecuador border region. Strong tremors shaking Chiclayo and Guayaquil and Cuenca in Ecuador. See 1970 Peru-Ecuador earthquake |
479 |
| 19720320000020 March 1972 | 7°09′S 76°24′W / 7.15°S 76.40°W / -7.15; -76.40 San Martin Region |
6.5 | In amazonic city of Juanjui 25 people were killed, and massive licuefaction was reported. Landslides in Saposoa, Tarapoto and near Moyobamba. Massive damage in the Huallaga Central valley and in Tocache, Chachapoyas and Tingo Maria cities. | 100 |
| 1974100300003 October 1974 | 12°30′S 77°59′W / 12.50°S 77.98°W / -12.50; -77.98 Lima Region |
7.2 | In Lima and El Callao, 179 people were killed, 1,000 people injured and more of 4,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. Other 35 victims in Cañete, Yauyos, Pisco city, Ica city and Chincha Alta, at least 04 fatalities in Huancayo area. See1974 Lima earthquake |
337 |
| 19790216000016 Febrero 1979 | 16°31′S 72°35′W / 16.51°S 72.59°W / -16.51; -72.59 Arequipa Region |
6.8 | 13 people died in Arequipa city, 50 died in Pampacolca, Chuquibamba and Aplao. | 100 |
| 1986040600006 April 1986 | 13°29′S 71°54′W / 13.48°S 71.90°W / -13.48; -71.90 Cuzco Region |
6.1 | A least 27 people died and 05 were reported missing in Cuzco city, landslides and considerable damage in historical buildings and churches. | 40 |
| 19900529000029 May 1990 | 6°10′S 77°13′W / 6.16°S 77.22°W / -6.16; -77.22 San Martin Region, Amazonas Region |
6.8 | Great damage and victims in Moyobamba, Chachapoyas, Bagua, Tarapoto and other areas. | 300 |
| 1991040400004 April 1991 | 5°59′S 77°05′W / 5.98°S 77.09°W / -5.98; -77.09 San Martin Region, Loreto Region |
6.5 | In Moyobamba 11 people were killed. | 100 |
| 19930418000018 April 1993 | 11°45′S 76°37′W / 11.75°S 76.62°W / -11.75; -76.62 Lima Region |
6.0 | 10 | |
| 19960221000021 February 1996 | 9°35′35″S 79°35′13″W / 9.593°S 79.587°W / -9.593; -79.587 Northern Peru |
7.4 | See 1996 Chimbote earthquake | 12 |
| 19961112000012 November 1996 | 15°18′S 76°26′W / 15.30°S 76.44°W / -15.30; -76.44 Ica Region, Arequipa Region |
6.4 | Great damage at Nasca and Palpa. | 24 |
| 20010623000023 June 2001 | 16°16′S 73°38′W / 16.26°S 73.64°W / -16.26; -73.64 175 km (110 miles) south-southeast of Puquio |
8.4 | See 2001 southern Peru earthquake | 75 |
| 20050925000025 September 2005 | 5°40′S 76°25′W / 5.67°S 76.41°W / -5.67; -76.41 100 km (60 mi) northeast of Moyobamba |
7.5 | See 2005 northern Peru earthquake | 5 |
| 20070815000015 August 2007 | 13°19′S 76°31′W / 13.32°S 76.51°W / -13.32; -76.51 150 kilometres (93 mi) south-southeast of Lima |
8.0 | See 2007 Peru earthquake | 519 |
| 28 October 2011 | 14°31′S 76°01′W / 14.52°S 76.01°W / -14.52; -76.01 288 kilometres (178 mi) south-southeast of Lima |
6.9 | TBD; Initial projections=0 |
Famous quotes containing the words list of, list, earthquakes and/or peru:
“Shea—they call him Scholar Jack—
Went down the list of the dead.
Officers, seamen, gunners, marines,
The crews of the gig and yawl,
The bearded man and the lad in his teens,
Carpenters, coal-passers—all.”
—Joseph I. C. Clarke (1846–1925)
“Hey, you dress up our town very nicely. You don’t look out the Chamber of Commerce is going to list you in their publicity with the local attractions.”
—Robert M. Fresco, and Jack Arnold. Dr. Matt Hastings (John Agar)
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”
—Bible: New Testament, Matthew 24:7,8.
“The idea that nations should love one another, or that business concerns or marketing boards should love one another, or that a man in Portugal should love a man in Peru of whom he has never heard—it is absurd, unreal, dangerous.... The fact is we can only love what we know personally. And we cannot know much.”
—E.M. (Edward Morgan)