May 14, 1633 Earthquake: Fort Carelmapu, Chile

Name: May 14, 1633 Earthquake: Fort Carelmapu, Chile
Start: 1633-05-14
Location: Fort Carelmapu, Chile

May 14, 1633 · Deaths: few

An earthquake struck Fort Carelmapu, Chile on May 14, 1633. It caused a tsunami.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date: May 14, 1633
Place: Fort Carelmapu, Chile
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 41.800° S, 73.800° W
Country: Chile

The toll

Deaths: Few (about 1 to 50) with its tsunami and other effects
Damage: Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Houses destroyed: Some (about 51 to 100)

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

May 14, 1633 (at daybreak). The inhabitants of Fort Carelmapu on the island of Chiloe, were awakened by a deafening sound, and at the same time a strong earthquake destroyed the fort. The massive gates, which could be raised only with the help of a large detachment of soldiers, were torn from their supports. Deep cracks appeared in the earth, houses and churches were destroyed, and corpses were hurled from their graves. Subsequently, the water level rose, carrying away houses and people. Two ships were lost in the harbour. Thick clouds darkened the sky, culminating in a long hailstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning. A ball of fire seemed to roll slowly from the top of one of the nearby hills into the ocean. (reference #415)

1633, May 14, Northern Chile, Carehnapu, intensity I

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1633 The 1600s Recent earthquakes near here This day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5966.