NOAA Logo, NOAA Satellites and Information, National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC).

NOAA > NESDIS > NGDC > Natural Hazards
comments |  privacy policy
Hazard Photos Home View Thumbnails

Great Chile Earthquake of May 22, 1960 - Anniversary Edition

On May 22, 1960, a Mw 9.5 earthquake, the largest earthquake ever instrumentally recorded, occurred in southern Chile. The series of earthquakes that followed ravaged southern Chile and ruptured over a period of days a 1,000 km section of the fault, one of the longest ruptures ever reported. The number of fatalities associated with both the tsunami and the earthquake has been estimated to be between 490 and 5,700. Reportedly there were 3,000 injured, and initially there were 717 missing in Chile. The Chilean government estimated 2,000,000 people were left homeless and 58,622 houses were completely destroyed. Damage (including tsunami damage) was more than $500 million U.S. dollars. The main shock setup a series of seismic sea waves (tsunami) that not only was destructive along the coast of Chile, but which also caused numerous casualties and extensive property damage in Hawaii and Japan, and which was noticeable along shorelines throughout the Pacific Ocean area. There were several other geologic phenomena besides tsunamis associated with this event. Subsidence caused by the earthquake produced local flooding and permanently altered the shorelines of much of the area in Chile impacted by the earthquake. Landslides were common on Chilean hillsides. Cordón Caulle erupted forty-seven hours after the main shock. It is only a matter of time until Chile once again has a "world-class" earthquake whose impact, like the 1960 Chile event, will be felt around the world.

Isla Mocha

Valdivia suffered catastrophic damage because of its proximity to the epicenter of the massive quake. Regional tectonic subsidence of five to seven feet occurred. There was extensive loss to agricultural lands from flooding. The horizontal ground motions, not the subsidence, caused the principal damage to structures away from shorelines and river channels. Older masonry structures were hard hit by the earthquake. However, many wood frame buildings performed well.

The ship in the photo was wrecked by the tsunami on Isla Mocha (north of Valdivia). Note the raised beach and landslides. Large landslides, massive flows of earthen debris and rock, occurred on the island. The tsunami runup on Isla Mocha was 25 m (more than 82 ft). Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Queule

Valdivia suffered catastrophic damage because of its proximity to the epicenter of the massive quake. Regional tectonic subsidence of five to seven feet occurred. There was extensive loss to agricultural lands from flooding. The horizontal ground motions, not the subsidence, caused the principal damage to structures away from shorelines and river channels. Older masonry structures were hard hit by the earthquake. However, many wood frame buildings performed well.

The fishing village of Queule (north of Valdivia and south of Lebu) before and after the catastrophe of May 1960. The bottom photo was taken after the land subsidence and after the tsunami. The town was destroyed. The houses, together with the remains of fishing boats and uprooted trees, were washed as much as two kilometers inland by a tsunami 4.5 m high. The sinking of the land also brought about a permanent rise of the sea. The meandering creek bed in the foreground has been changed into an estuary. The trees that dot the river bank in the top photo are the only ones that remain in the bottom photo. Also the linear feature next to the solitary tree in the bottom photo can be found in the top photo marked with smaller trees that later disappeared in the wave. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Valdivia

Valdivia suffered catastrophic damage because of its proximity to the epicenter of the massive quake. Regional tectonic subsidence of five to seven feet occurred. There was extensive loss to agricultural lands from flooding. The horizontal ground motions, not the subsidence, caused the principal damage to structures away from shorelines and river channels. Older masonry structures were hard hit by the earthquake. However, many wood frame buildings performed well.

Inundation at Valdiva. Note the damaged houses and riverbank failure. The photo is taken almost at the confluence of the Valdivia River with the Calle Calle River (top right, out of the photo). Part of the shoreline street is submerged. The tsunami runup of 10 m (33 ft) dislodged some structures and washed others away. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Valdivia

Valdivia suffered catastrophic damage because of its proximity to the epicenter of the massive quake. Regional tectonic subsidence of five to seven feet occurred. There was extensive loss to agricultural lands from flooding. The horizontal ground motions, not the subsidence, caused the principal damage to structures away from shorelines and river channels. Older masonry structures were hard hit by the earthquake. However, many wood frame buildings performed well.

This photo shows earthquake damage to good quality, wood-frame houses in Valdivia. These houses were located in a filled ground area. They slid down hill to the right because of solifluction (downslope flow of waterlogged soil). Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Gulf of Corral

Valdivia suffered catastrophic damage because of its proximity to the epicenter of the massive quake. Regional tectonic subsidence of five to seven feet occurred. There was extensive loss to agricultural lands from flooding. The horizontal ground motions, not the subsidence, caused the principal damage to structures away from shorelines and river channels. Older masonry structures were hard hit by the earthquake. However, many wood frame buildings performed well.

Tsunami in the Gulf of Corral near Valdivia. The top photo was taken from a cliff 30 m high and shows the withdrawal of the sea prior to the second advance of the tsunami. The lower view taken from the same location shows the second wave which is about 8 m high breaking on shore. Photo credit: Luis Bernucci

View full resolution image

Corral

Valdivia suffered catastrophic damage because of its proximity to the epicenter of the massive quake. Regional tectonic subsidence of five to seven feet occurred. There was extensive loss to agricultural lands from flooding. The horizontal ground motions, not the subsidence, caused the principal damage to structures away from shorelines and river channels. Older masonry structures were hard hit by the earthquake. However, many wood frame buildings performed well.

Damage at Corral after the tsunami. Structures were destroyed by a 10 m (33 ft) wave. Some houses and structures were swept against the hillsides. Others were swept out to sea. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Corral

Valdivia suffered catastrophic damage because of its proximity to the epicenter of the massive quake. Regional tectonic subsidence of five to seven feet occurred. There was extensive loss to agricultural lands from flooding. The horizontal ground motions, not the subsidence, caused the principal damage to structures away from shorelines and river channels. Older masonry structures were hard hit by the earthquake. However, many wood frame buildings performed well.

Aerial view of the Carlos Haverbeck in the port of Corral after the tsunami. The ship had been secured by two anchors before the waves hit her and swept her out of control throughout the harbor area. She came dangerously close to shore and to other ships, before she finally ran aground and sank. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Puerto Montt

The land along the coast of Chile, particularly in the port city of Puerto Montt, subsided (sank downward) as a result of the movement of the ground during the quake. The coastal city was flooded with water.

Dock area at Angelmo, fisherman's port for Puerto Montt, as it appeared in January 1960. Note the retaining wall and motor ship Puyehue. In the lower view, note the standing remnants of the retaining wall and the grounded ship Puyehue. The subsidence was one meter in this area. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Ancud

The land along the coast of Chile, particularly in the port city of Puerto Montt, subsided (sank downward) as a result of the movement of the ground during the quake. The coastal city was flooded with water.

Tsunami damage at Ancud. Note the house that floated to a new location. In this area, water withdrew leaving the bottom completely exposed. Then 50 minutes after the earthquake, a wave of 15 m (49.5 ft) struck with great force. Whirlpools formed in Ancud harbor. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Isla Chiloe

Aerial view of coastal area showing tsunami damage and runup height (10 m; 33 ft) on Isla Chiloe, Chile. Two hundred deaths were reported here from the tsunami. The inhabitants, fearing the earthquake, climbed into small boats to escape the shaking. Just ten to fifteen minutes after the earthquake, the trough of the tsunami arrived along more than 500 m of the coast. Upon the return of the sea in a thunderous breaker, all boats were lost. Photo credit: Unknown

View full resolution image

Castro

Fire augmented the earthquake damage in Castro on Isla Chiloe. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Quellon

Water front street in Quellon (located on the eastern shore of Isla Chiloe). The half-demolished building was the city hall. This part of Isla Chiloe sank about two meters. Some houses near the sea had to be evacuated; water reached the main street of the town. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Cordón Caulle

Cordon Calle volcano with an eruption cloud. The volcano, which was within 200 km of the earthquake epicenter, began to erupt two days after the earthquake. Photo credit: Pierre St. Amand

View full resolution image

Half Moon Bay

The highest runup on the United States was at Crescent City, California. Here, the runup reached 1.7 m and the first wave arrived 15.5 hours after the tsunami was triggered. A total of $500,000 to $1,000,000 in damage was done by the tsunami to the United States west coast.

A small fishing boat at Half Moon Bay was washed on shore by the tsunami that hit the California coast. Most of the damage on the California coast was to small boats such as this one, and to harbors, docks, and moorings. Photo credit: Don Tocher

View full resolution image

Hilo

Hilo was the hardest hit city in the Hawaiian Islands. The tsunami arrived at Hilo about 15 hours after it originated off the coast of south central Chile, 6,600 miles distant. The runup at Hilo was measured at 10.7 m. The tsunami changed into a bore as it passed the harbor entrance and advanced on to the bay front. The business district along Kamehameha Avenue and the adjoining low-lying residential areas of Waiakea and Shimmache were destroyed. Damage to property included 229 dwellings and 308 business and public buildings. Between the Wailoa and Wailuku Rivers, the water washed inland as far as the 6 m(20 ft) contour above sea level.

Tsunami at Hilo, Hawaii. In this photo, tsunami waters strike the Wailoa River as policeman and curious citizens watch at the location of the old Suisan Fish Market. The tsunami had been predicted to hit at 12 midnight. The clock in picture shows time as 12:12 a.m. The largest and most damaging wave (the third wave) had not yet arrived at Hilo. Photo credit: James Hamasaki

View full resolution image

Waimea Bay

Hilo was the hardest hit city in the Hawaiian Islands. The tsunami arrived at Hilo about 15 hours after it originated off the coast of south central Chile, 6,600 miles distant. The runup at Hilo was measured at 10.7 m. The tsunami changed into a bore as it passed the harbor entrance and advanced on to the bay front. The business district along Kamehameha Avenue and the adjoining low-lying residential areas of Waiakea and Shimmache were destroyed. Damage to property included 229 dwellings and 308 business and public buildings. Between the Wailoa and Wailuku Rivers, the water washed inland as far as the 6 m(20 ft) contour above sea level.

Arrival of a wave of the tsunami at Waimea Bay, Oahu. The greatest wave height recorded on Oahu was more than 4 m (13 ft). Photo credit: Honolulu Star Bulletin

View full resolution image

Hilo

Hilo was the hardest hit city in the Hawaiian Islands. The tsunami arrived at Hilo about 15 hours after it originated off the coast of south central Chile, 6,600 miles distant. The runup at Hilo was measured at 10.7 m. The tsunami changed into a bore as it passed the harbor entrance and advanced on to the bay front. The business district along Kamehameha Avenue and the adjoining low-lying residential areas of Waiakea and Shimmache were destroyed. Damage to property included 229 dwellings and 308 business and public buildings. Between the Wailoa and Wailuku Rivers, the water washed inland as far as the 6 m(20 ft) contour above sea level.

Beginning of clean-up operations at Hilo. The waves ripped 22 ton boulders from a 3 m high (10 ft) sea wall and carried them 180 m (nearly 700 ft) across Mooheau Park without damaging the grass. Photo credit: Pacific Tide Party

View full resolution image

Waiakea

Hilo was the hardest hit city in the Hawaiian Islands. The tsunami arrived at Hilo about 15 hours after it originated off the coast of south central Chile, 6,600 miles distant. The runup at Hilo was measured at 10.7 m. The tsunami changed into a bore as it passed the harbor entrance and advanced on to the bay front. The business district along Kamehameha Avenue and the adjoining low-lying residential areas of Waiakea and Shimmache were destroyed. Damage to property included 229 dwellings and 308 business and public buildings. Between the Wailoa and Wailuku Rivers, the water washed inland as far as the 6 m(20 ft) contour above sea level.

Aftermath of the tsunami in the Waiakea area of Hilo. The largest wave in the Hilo area was more than 10 m (33 ft) and was estimated to have traveled at speeds greater than 30 mph. Note the scattered debris, gutted foundation and the parking meters that were bent parallel to the ground by the force of the waves. Photo credit: Sunset Newspaper

View full resolution image

Hilo

Hilo was the hardest hit city in the Hawaiian Islands. The tsunami arrived at Hilo about 15 hours after it originated off the coast of south central Chile, 6,600 miles distant. The runup at Hilo was measured at 10.7 m. The tsunami changed into a bore as it passed the harbor entrance and advanced on to the bay front. The business district along Kamehameha Avenue and the adjoining low-lying residential areas of Waiakea and Shimmache were destroyed. Damage to property included 229 dwellings and 308 business and public buildings. Between the Wailoa and Wailuku Rivers, the water washed inland as far as the 6 m(20 ft) contour above sea level.

Extensive building damage in the water front area of Hilo. There was a zone of total destruction adjacent to the bay. Nearly 240 hectares (600 acres) inland of Hilo harbor were inundated, and $23.5 million in damage occurred here. In the area of maximum destruction, only buildings of reinforced concrete or structural steel remained. Frame buildings were crushed or floated to the flooding limit. Photo credit: W.G. Van Dorn

View full resolution image

Hilo

Hilo was the hardest hit city in the Hawaiian Islands. The tsunami arrived at Hilo about 15 hours after it originated off the coast of south central Chile, 6,600 miles distant. The runup at Hilo was measured at 10.7 m. The tsunami changed into a bore as it passed the harbor entrance and advanced on to the bay front. The business district along Kamehameha Avenue and the adjoining low-lying residential areas of Waiakea and Shimmache were destroyed. Damage to property included 229 dwellings and 308 business and public buildings. Between the Wailoa and Wailuku Rivers, the water washed inland as far as the 6 m(20 ft) contour above sea level.

Tsunami damage in Hilo, showing debris left by the waves. The area in the foreground has been cleared. Heavy machinery, mill rollers, and metal stocks were strewn about by the waves. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey

View full resolution image