Modern Era · South America · Disaster

1960

Great Chilean Earthquake

May 22, 1960

The most powerful earthquake ever recorded - magnitude 9.5 - struck southern Chile, triggering tsunamis that crossed the Pacific and killed people in Hawaii and Japan fifteen hours later. Two million Chileans were left homeless. The earth rang like a bell for days. Seismology had found its upper limit, and it was terrifying.

More from 1960 Modern Era

In context

Also in 1960 (7 other events on record)

Year of Africa · Africa · Politics
The Pill approved · North America · Science
Sharpeville massacre · Africa · Politics
Congo Crisis · Africa · Politics
Kennedy elected · North America · Politics
U-2 shot down over USSR · Central Asia · Politics

Before and after in South America

Before: 1911: Machu Picchu rediscovered
After: 1967: Che Guevara killed in Bolivia

Before and after in Disaster

Before: December 5, 1952: Great Smog of London
After: November 9, 1965: Northeast blackout

Era

Modern Era (1901–2000), one of 590 events from that era on Saeculum.