World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1970
Historic Tsunami
1970 Peru Tsunami
31 May 1970 · North Peru · Peru
On 31 May 1970 at 20:23 UTC, a tsunami formed near North Peru, Peru. It was caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake. Waves reached up to 0.5 m high. It was observed at 15 locations in 2 countries or territories, up to 16,036 km from its source. It killed at least 66,794 people and injured 50,000. It is the 5th deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 31 May 1970
- Time
- 20:23 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.9
- Highest Wave
- 0.5 m
- Observation Sites
- 15
- Furthest Reach
- 16,036 km
- Deaths
- 66,794
- Injuries
- 50,000
- Estimated Damage
- 530 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Peru
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1970 Ancash Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
Highest Waves
- 0.5 mChimbote · Peru · 24 km
- 0.2 mCallao la Punta · Peru · 364 km
- 0.1 mTosa-Shimizu · Japan · 15,843 km
- 0.1 mAyukawa · Japan · 14,866 km
- 0.1 mHanasaki · Japan · 14,301 km
- 0.1 mTokachiko · Japan · 14,514 km
- 0.1 mHiroo · Japan · 14,516 km
- 0.1 mMurotomisaki · Japan · 15,718 km
- 0.1 mAburatsu · Japan · 16,036 km
- 0.0 mOmaezaki · Japan · 15,319 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2010513 Lake, Hualcan Glacier, Peru · 23.0 m1 deaths
- 1996North Peru, Peru · 5.0 m12 deaths
- 1974Central Peru, Peru · 0.9 m78 deaths
- 1971Chungar, Peru · 30.0 m600 deaths
- 1966Central Peru, Peru · 3.0 m110 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