March 27, 1725 Earthquake: Callao, Peru
An earthquake struck Callao, Peru on March 27, 1725, 50 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
- March 27, 1725
- Place
- Callao, Peru
- Focal depth
- 50 km (31 mi)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 16.600° S, 72.700° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million) with its tsunami and other effects
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.
March 27, 1725. Shocks were felt along the entire southern coast of Peru right up to Callao. High seas caused much damage in Camana. (reference #415)
March 27, 1725. Commotion of the whole coast south of Peru due to a great earthquake. Sea rose. (reference #1111)
March 27, 1725, 16.7 S, 73 W, depth 50 km, intensity VI, tsunami. (reference #1208)
March 27, 1725, 16.7 S, 73 W, depth 50 km, intensity VII. (reference #1221)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- February 19, 1600, Volcan Huaynaputina, Peru
- May 13, 1784, Arequipa,camana,moquegua,tambo, Peru
- July 10, 1821, Camana, Ocona, Caraveli, Peru
- June 23, 2001, Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna, Ayacucho, Peru
- July 23, 1991, Maca, Chivay, Yanque, Peru
- January 13, 1960, Arequipa,chuquibamba,caraveli,cotahuasi, Peru
- January 22, 1582, Socabaya,arequipa, Peru
- December 2, 1914, Pararca,paysa,colta,oyala, Peru
- January 15, 1958, Arequipa, Peru
- February 16, 1979, Arequipa, Peru
- August 15, 2016, Arequipa, Peru
- April 3, 1999, Camana, Arequipa, Peru
- August 11, 2017, Arequipa, Peru
- July 18, 2017, Arequipa, Peru
- July 8, 2008, Arequipa, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1725The 1700sRecent 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 6022.