The 1960 Valdivia earthquake and tsunami (Spanish: Terremoto de Valdivia) or the Great Chilean earthquake (Gran terremoto de Chile) on 22 May 1960 was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. Various studies have placed it at 9.4–9.6 on the moment magnitude scale.[1] It occurred in the afternoon (19:11 GMT, 15:11 local time), and lasted for approximately 10 minutes. The resulting tsunamis 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, 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 traveled across the Pacific Ocean and devastated Hilo, Hawaii, where waves as high as 10.7 metres (35 ft) were recorded over 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) from the epicenter.
The death toll and monetary losses arising from this widespread disaster are not certain.[6]
Various estimates of the total number of fatalities from the earthquake and tsunamis have been published, ranging between 1,000 and 6,000 killed.[5] Different sources have estimated the monetary cost ranged from US$400million to $800million[7] (or US$4.1billion to $8.2billion in 2023, adjusted for inflation).[8]
^ abCite error: The named reference Satake was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Significant Earthquake Database". U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
^"M 9.5 - 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake)-USGS". USGS ShakeMap. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
^"M 9.5 - 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake)-USGS". USGS ShakeMap. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
^ abCite error: The named reference PAGER-CAT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Video: Cataclysm. Volcano, Tidal Waves, Devastate Pacific Area, 1960/05/27 (1960). Universal Newsreel. 1960. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
^"The Largest Earthquake in the World – Articles". U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2007.
^1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved 29 February 2024.
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