November 24, 1604 Earthquake: Arica, Arequipa, Chile, Peru

1604 (erroneously 1605), November 23 or 24 (erroneously 26 and 29) [13:30 local time]. There was an earthquake and tsunami in Peru and in the northern part of Chile. The source of the earthquake was evidently situated close to Arequipa. The tremors affected an area of 1650 km along the coast and 130 km inland. Numerous landslides, avalanches, subsidences, depressions and ground cracks were observed. Arequipa was almost completely destroyed; only San Francisco Monastery was preserved. During the tremors it was impossible to stand upright. The collapsing buildings generated a thick dust which darkened the sky as if night had arrived, and people almost suffocated as they fled the city in fear. Most of the small rivers disappeared because their source dried up. Canals, which had cost the government a great deal of money, collapsed. The shocks continued for about a quarter of an hour. Also destroyed were Ica, San Marcos de Arica, and all the settlements between 16o and 20o S. Estimated losses amounted to more than a million gold pesos. These problems were compounded by the appearance of a tsunami which flooded the coastline for a distance of 1200 km. Arica suffered most of all.

1705, November 26 (or 16). An earthquake occurred in Arequipa and Arica, and the wave generated during that quake flooded and destroyed a large part of Arica. (Perrey made the suggestion, with which one must agree, that this information refers to the earthquake and tsunami of 26 November 1605).

The previous is from reference #415.

1604, 24 Nov, at 13:30 [local time]. Earthquake and tsunami on the south coast. The seismic commotion ruined the cities of Arequipa and San Marcos de Arequipa, the damage extending as far as Ica. The movement was felt more than 1650 km from north to south and over at least 130 km from the coast into the interior. The sea, rising, destroyed the harbor of Arica, where 23 persons died, and the harbor of Pisco. The material damage was estimated as more than a million pesos. (reference #1111)

1604, Nov 24. Chile and Peru, Arica to Arequipa. Intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed towns and devastated districts. (reference #1055)

1604. Arica, magnitude 8.25 - 8.5, 100+ fatalities from the earthquake. (reference #1170)

1604, Nov 24, 18:30 UTC, 17.88 S, 70.94 W, magnitude 7, depth 80 km, intensity X, fatalities. (reference #1208)

1604, Nov 24. 18 S, 75.5 W, intensity XI. (reference #1211)

1604, Nov 24, 18:30 UTC. 17.88 S, 70.94 W, magnitude 9.4 intensity VIII, depth 30 km. (reference #1221)

Reference #14060 lists 1604 Dec 24