World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1960
Historic Tsunami
1960 Peru Tsunami
20 November 1960 · North Peru · Peru
On 20 November 1960 at 22:01 UTC, a tsunami formed near North Peru, Peru. It was caused by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake. Waves reached up to 9.0 m high. It was observed at 19 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 14,648 km from its source. It killed at least 66 people and injured 2.
- Date
- 20 November 1960
- Time
- 22:01 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 6.8
- Highest Wave
- 9.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 19
- Furthest Reach
- 14,648 km
- Deaths
- 66
- Injuries
- 2
- Estimated Damage
- 1 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Peru
- Triggering Earthquake
- November 1960 Peru Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 10Peru · 9.0 m79 deaths
- 7Japan · 0.2 m
- 1Mexico · 0.1 m
- 1United States of America · 0.1 m
Highest Waves
- 9.0 mPimentel · Peru · 91 km
- 9.0 mPuerto Eten · Peru · 93 km3 deaths
- 0.7 mChimbote · Peru · 341 km
- 0.5 mCallao la Punta · Peru · 700 km
- 0.2 mAyukawa · Japan · 14,529 km
- 0.1 mHachinohe · Japan · 14,404 km
- 0.1 mAcapulco · Mexico · 3,362 km
- 0.1 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 8,650 km
- 0.1 mMatarani · Peru · 1,465 km
- 0.1 mTalara · Peru · 254 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2010513 Lake, Hualcan Glacier, Peru · 23.0 m1 deaths
- 1996North Peru, Peru · 5.0 m12 deaths
- 1970North Peru, Peru · 0.5 m66,794 deaths
- 1966Central Peru, Peru · 3.0 m110 deaths
- 1953North Peru, Peru · 1.0 m6 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth