June 18, 1678 Earthquake: Lima,salinas-Huaura,lima,callao,chancay, Peru
A magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck Lima,salinas-Huaura,lima,callao,chancay, Peru on June 18, 1678 at 01:45 UTC, 40 km below the surface. 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
- June 18, 1678
- Time
- 01:45 UTC
- Place
- Lima,salinas-Huaura,lima,callao,chancay, Peru
- Magnitude
- 8.4 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 40 km (25 mi)
- Intensity
- 9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 9.000° S, 79.000° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Deaths
- Many (about 101 to 1,000)
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Many (101 to 1,000)
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.
1678, June 17 (other sources give 8 January) [19:45]. 9 S, 79 W, magnitude 8.25 MS. An earthquake occurred in Santa (Peru), and the sea receded to within visible range from shore and it remained there for 24 hours, according to an Indian narrator. Then the sea level rose and the waves "rushed and rolled" with such force that three small vessels of 60-100 tons displacement, which were riding at anchor in the open road, were tossed over the hill on which the town was situated. Their hulls were seen in October 1685 by an English traveller (L. Vafer), who also published a story about this event. The town was completely washed away, but later it was rebuilt 5 1/2 km ( 3 miles) from shore and only a solitary sandy hill remains at the former site of the town. The land close to the shore was devastated for a considerable distance. In Lima, the earthquake was quite severe and partially destroyed the town, including public churches and private buildings. Losses were estimated at three million pesos. (reference #415)
1678, June 17. Destruction of public and private buildings many persons were killed. (reference #1102)
1678, June 17, at 19:45. A very strong shock in Lima damaged the principal buildings, among them the Palace of the Viceroy, the convents and private houses. The repairs were estimated at more than three million pesos. (reference #1111)
1678, June 18, 01:45 UTC, 12.3 S, 77.8 W, depth 40 km, magnitude 8.44 MS, intensity VII, casualties. (reference #1221)
1678, June 18, 01:45 UTC, 12.3 S, 77.8 W, depth 40 km, magnitude 8.44 MS, intensity IX, casualties. (reference #1208)
1678, June 17. Lima, II. (reference #1908)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 31, 1970, Northern, Pisco, Chiclayo, Peru
- January 7, 1725, Trujillo, Ancash, Lima, Peru
- November 10, 1946, Jocaibamba,cerro Angaschaj,cerro Sillapata, Peru
- February 14, 1619, Trujillo, Piura, Santa, Peru
- October 17, 1966, Lima,huacho,huaura, Chancay,supe,san Nicolas, Peru
- February 21, 1996, Chimbote, Callao, Northern, Peru
- April 18, 1962, Casma,huaraz,quiruvilca,trujillo, Peru
- October 2, 1987, Santaog DE Chuco, Trujillo, Chimbote, Peru
- June 7, 2020, Chimbote, Coast, Peru
- January 11, 1986, Huarmey, Casma, Huarax, Chimbote, Peru
- September 24, 1963, Huayllacayan,cajacay,malyas,malvas,huaraz, Peru
- August 21, 1985, Chimbote, Coast, Peru
- February 14, 1658, Trujillo, Peru
- September 3, 1967, Off Coast, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1678The 1600sRecent earthquakes near hereThis 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 1081.