November 10, 1650 Earthquake: Sucre, Bolivia

This is the only ancient earthquake known to have caused damage in Bolivia. The capital of Upper Peru, Chuquisaca (today Sucre), was lamenting such damage, a few months after another earthquake destroyed Cuzco; three centuries later the same catastrophes would be repeated in Sucre in 1948 and even more in Cuzco in 1950. Three premonitory tremors were felt from the 4th and several aftershocks were also felt.

Ernesto O. Rúck writes in January 1885 that it was necessary to rebuild the tower of the Cathedral, as the minutes of the Cabildo (Sede Vacante) held the day after the earthquake had already judged indispensable. We copy part of these minutes, according to Ballivian (1909): "The Dean proposed that because in this city, since the fourth of the present month, four great earthquakes or tremors have been experienced repeatedly, and the last one was extremely strong yesterday, Thursday the tenth of the present month, at about twelve o'clock, which resulted in such a great movement in the tower of this Santa Iglesia that a great quantity of bricks have fallen, that a great quantity of bricks have fallen, leaving very large openings, threatening great ruin and evident damage to the main body of the Church, and that if these tremors continue, it is constantly feared that the first one that happens will cause the bells and the rest that the said tower has to drag along with it to the ground". [note: translation from original Spanish supported by AI tools] (reference #14057)