1960 Valdivia Earthquake – The Largest Ever Recorded

On May 22, 1960 at 3:11 p.m. local time, a magnitude 9.5 earthquake struck the coast of southern Chile. It was the largest earthquake ever recorded and what followed was not a single disaster but a cascade: tsunamis, landslides, flooding, and a volcanic eruption.

Please scroll down for timestamps and safety information. 👇

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:18 – Date, magnitude, location

00:35 – Tectonic setting: Peru-Chile Trench

01:13 – Foreshock sequence

01:38 – M9.5 mainshock; fault rupture

01:55 – Earthquake impact in Valdivia

02:11 – Local tsunami

02:36 – Third wave largest and most destructive

02:52 – Ocean-wide tsunami

03:05 – Hawaii tsunami warning

03:24 – Hilo, Hawaii tragedy

03:48 – Landslides; Riñihue Lake

04:29 – Cordón Caulle eruption