1960 Valdivia earthquake
 Iquique
Santiago
 Punta Arenas
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| Date | May 22, 1960 |
|---|---|
| Origin time | 15:11:14 |
| Duration | 11–13 minutes |
| Magnitude | 9.4–9.6 Mw |
| Depth | 33 km (21 mi) |
| Epicenter | 38°14′S 73°03′W / 38.24°S 73.05°WCoordinates: 38°14′S 73°03′W / 38.24°S 73.05°W |
| Type | Megathrust |
| Areas affected | Chile, Pacific Rim |
| Max. intensity | XII (Extreme) |
| Landslides | Yes |
| Casualties | 1,000–7,000 |
The 1960 Valdivia earthquake (Spanish: Terremoto de Valdivia) or Great Chilean earthquake (Gran terremoto de Chile) of 22 May is the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. Various studies have placed it at 9.4–9.6 on the moment magnitude scale. It occurred in the afternoon (19:11 GMT, 15:11 local time), and lasted approximately 10 minutes. The resulting tsunami affected southern Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, eastern New Zealand, southeast Australia and the Aleutian Islands.
The epicenter of this megathrust earthquake was near Lumaco (see map), approximately 570 kilometres (350 mi) south of Santiago, with Valdivia being the most affected city. The tremor caused localised tsunamis that severely battered the Chilean coast, with waves up to 25 metres (82 ft). The main tsunami raced across the Pacific Ocean and devastated Hilo, Hawaii. Waves as high as 10.7 metres (35 ft) were recorded 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) from the epicenter, and as far away as Japan and the Philippines.
The death toll and monetary losses arising from this widespread disaster are not certain. Various estimates of the total number of fatalities from the earthquake and tsunamis have been published, ranging between 1,000 and 6,000 killed. Different sources have estimated the monetary cost ranged from US$400 million to 800 million (or $3.24 billion to $6.48 billion today, adjusted for inflation).
The 1960 Chilean earthquakes were a sequence of strong earthquakes that affected Chile between 21 May and 6 June 1960. The first was the 8.1 Mw Concepción earthquake, and the strongest was the Valdivia earthquake.
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