Historical tsunamis · Oct 29, 1746, 3:30 AM UTC

1746 Central Peru tsunami

Peru

The tsunami of Oct 29, 1746, 3:30 AM UTC originated near Central Peru (Peru).

Key facts

Date
Oct 29, 1746, 3:30 AM UTC
Cause
Earthquake
Magnitude
M8.0
Depth
30 km
Maximum documented water height
24.0 m
Deaths
5,941
Houses destroyed
very many (over 1,000)
Damage
extreme (over US$ 25 million)
Observation records
11
Countries affected
3

It was triggered by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake at a depth of 30 km.

The highest documented water height was 24.0 m (Callao, Peru).

11 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.

The database records 5,941 deaths.

Houses destroyed: very many (over 1,000).

Damage is estimated at extreme (over US$ 25 million).

All tsunamis in PeruRecord at NOAA/NCEI ↗

Map of observation sites

11

Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.

Tsunami arrival times

Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.

  1. 0:00 hEarthquake (origin)
  2. 0:30 hPeru · Callao · 24.00 m

1 places with a documented arrival time

Observations by country

CountryObservation recordsMaximum documented water heightDeathsEarliest arrival
Peru924.0 m
Callao		4,8000:30 h
Mexico1———
Chile1———

Highest documented water heights

11 / 11

Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.

Location / stationObserved heightDistance from sourceCountry
Callao · Callao24.00 m8 kmPeru
Acapulco · Guerrero—4,052 kmMexico
Caballas · Ica—374 kmPeru
Chancay · Lima—48 kmPeru
Guanape · La Libertad—438 kmPeru
Huacho · Lima—108 kmPeru
Island of San Lorenzo · Callao—11 kmPeru
Old Concepcion · Biobio—2,773 kmChile
Pisco · Ica—217 kmPeru
Salinas, Huaura River · Lima—42 kmPeru
Santa · Ancash—369 kmPeru

More tsunamis in Peru

  • S. Peru Jun 28, 2024, 5:36 AM UTC · 0.20 m
  • S. Peru Jan 14, 2018, 9:18 AM UTC · 0.15 m
  • S. Peru Sep 25, 2013, 4:42 PM UTC · 0.09 m
  • S. Peru Aug 15, 2007, 11:40 PM UTC · 10.0 m
  • S. Peru Jun 23, 2001, 8:33 PM UTC · 8.80 m
  • S. Peru Nov 12, 1996, 4:59 PM UTC · 0.40 m
  • N. Peru Feb 21, 1996, 12:51 PM UTC · 5.04 m
  • Central Peru Oct 3, 1974, 2:21 PM UTC · 0.92 m

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.