Historical tsunamis · Jul 9, 1971, 3:03 AM UTC
1971 Central Chile tsunami
Chile
The tsunami of Jul 9, 1971, 3:03 AM UTC originated near Central Chile (Chile).
Key facts
- Date
- Jul 9, 1971, 3:03 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 58 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.60 m
- Deaths
- 83
- Injuries
- 447
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- US$ 236 million
- Observation records
- 1
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 58 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.60 m (Valparaiso, Chile).
1 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 83 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at US$ 236 million.
Map of observation sites
1Each 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 | 1 | 0.60 m Valparaiso | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
1 / 1Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso · Valparaiso | 0.60 m | 72 km | Chile |
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.