Peru earthquakes

M5.9 earthquake 15 km NNE of Máncora, Peru

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck 15 km NNE of Máncora, Peru on Tue, Dec 29, 1970, 3:01 AM GMT-5 (08:01 UTC), 35 km (22 mi) below the surface.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude
5.9 (mw), moderate
Local time
UTC
1970-12-29 08:01:59 UTC
Depth
35.0 km (21.7 mi), shallow
Epicenter
3.974° S, 81.020° W
Region
Peru
Strongest shaking
VI, strong shaking
Tsunami flag
No
Status
Reviewed by a seismologist

Shaking

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Strongest estimated
VI, strong shaking
Peak ground acceleration
11.9% of gravity
Peak ground velocity
1.6 cm/s
Map
Automatic
USGS ShakeMap: estimated shaking intensity around the epicenter
Estimated shaking intensity. Map: USGS ShakeMap.

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude uncertainty
±0.30
Depth from
From location

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 2 in the 60 days after this one and 14 in the 30 days before it.

After

  1. 5.312 km N of Máncora, Peru · 20328 days ago · 25 km deep · 5 km away
  2. 5.218 km NE of Máncora, Peru · 20311 days ago · 32 km deep · 12 km away

Before

  1. 5.224 km WNW of Cañaveral, Peru · 20358 days ago · 42 km deep · 21 km away
  2. 5.213 km W of Cañaveral, Peru · 20362 days ago · 37 km deep · 28 km away
  3. 5.614 km ENE of Máncora, Peru · 20363 days ago · 32 km deep · 16 km away
  4. 5.315 km NW of Papayal, Peru · 20364 days ago · 37 km deep · 19 km away
  5. 5.219 km NW of Papayal, Peru · 20364 days ago · 33 km deep · 19 km away
  6. 5.315 km WNW of Papayal, Peru · 20369 days ago · 33 km deep · 18 km away
  7. 5.212 km NW of Papayal, Peru · 20372 days ago · 40 km deep · 22 km away
  8. 5.76 km WSW of Papayal, Peru · 20374 days ago · 35 km deep · 30 km away
  9. 5.220 km NE of Máncora, Peru · 20374 days ago · 32 km deep · 13 km away
  10. 5.66 km ENE of Máncora, Peru · 20375 days ago · 36 km deep · 14 km away
  11. 5.114 km N of El Alto, Peru · 20375 days ago · 37 km deep · 30 km away
  12. 5.116 km WNW of Cañaveral, Peru · 20375 days ago · 35 km deep · 27 km away
  13. 5.412 km NW of Papayal, Peru · 20375 days ago · 38 km deep · 23 km away
  14. 7.29 km ENE of Papayal, Peru · 20375 days ago · 19 km deep · 41 km away

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Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event iscgem789621. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 12:56 AM UTC.