World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1966
Historic Tsunami
1966 Peru Tsunami
17 October 1966 · Central Peru · Peru
On 17 October 1966 at 21:41 UTC, a tsunami formed near Central Peru, Peru. It was caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake. Waves reached up to 3.0 m high. It was observed at 60 locations in 7 countries or territories, up to 16,165 km from its source. It killed at least 110 people and injured 3,000.
- Date
- 17 October 1966
- Time
- 21:41 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.1
- Highest Wave
- 3.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 60
- Furthest Reach
- 16,165 km
- Deaths
- 110
- Injuries
- 3,000
- Estimated Damage
- 35 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Peru
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1966 Peru Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 14Peru · 3.0 m
- 6Chile · 0.4 m
- 2Ecuador · 0.3 m
- 1Mexico · 0.2 m
- 13Japan · 0.2 m
- 23United States of America · 0.2 m
- 1Costa Rica · 0.2 m
Highest Waves
- 3.0 mHuaura · Peru · 119 km
- 3.0 mAncon · Peru · 198 km
- 3.0 mCasma · Peru · 146 km
- 3.0 mHuacho · Peru · 119 km
- 3.0 mTortuga · Peru · 155 km
- 3.0 mTrujillo · Peru · 295 km
- 3.0 mChiquito · Peru · 318 km
- 2.0 mCallao la Punta · Peru · 217 km
- 1.0 mChimbote · Peru · 184 km
- 0.4 mMatarani · Peru · 988 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2007South Peru, Peru · 10.1 m596 deaths
- 1996North Peru, Peru · 5.0 m12 deaths
- 1974Central Peru, Peru · 0.9 m78 deaths
- 1971Chungar, Peru · 30.0 m600 deaths
- 1970North Peru, Peru · 0.5 m66,794 deaths
- 1960North Peru, Peru · 9.0 m66 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth