Historical tsunamis · Dec 28, 1966, 8:18 AM UTC
1966 Northern Chile tsunami
Chile
The tsunami of Dec 28, 1966, 8:18 AM UTC originated near Northern Chile (Chile).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 28, 1966, 8:18 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 47 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.42 m
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 6
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- US$ 0.4 million
- Observation records
- 13
- Countries affected
- 6
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 47 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.42 m (Caldera, Chile).
13 observation sites in 6 countries are recorded.
The database records 3 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at US$ 0.4 million.
Map of observation sites
13Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 4 | 0.42 m Caldera | — | — |
 United States | 2 | 0.15 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | — |
 Peru | 3 | 0.10 m San Juan | — | — |
 Ecuador | 1 | 0.10 m Galapagos Islands | — | — |
| USA Territory | 2 | 0.06 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
 Kiribati | 1 | 0.03 m Christmas Island, Line Islands | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
13 / 13Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldera · Atacama | 0.42 m | 174 km | Chile |
| Antofagasta · Antofagasta | 0.22 m | 207 km | Chile |
| Arica · Arica Y Parinacota | 0.15 m | 779 km | Chile |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.15 m | 10,399 km | United States |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.15 m | 10,589 km | United States |
| Galapagos Islands · Galapagos Islands | 0.10 m | 3,396 km | Ecuador |
| San Juan · Ica | 0.10 m | 1,216 km | Peru |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | 0.06 m | 10,312 km | USA Territory |
| Chimbote · Ancash | 0.05 m | 2,001 km | Peru |
| Easter Island · Valparaiso (Isla de Pascua) | 0.05 m | 3,850 km | Chile |
| Matarani · Arequipa | 0.05 m | 952 km | Peru |
| Wake Island · Um | 0.05 m | 14,132 km | USA Territory |
| Christmas Island, Line Islands | 0.03 m | 9,786 km | Kiribati |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.