December 24, 1737 Earthquake: Valdivia, Chiloe, Chile

December 24, 1737, 43 S, 74 W. An earthquake destroyed Valdivia and a large part of the settlements on the archipelago (the island of Chiloe and others in the southern part of Chile). This earthquake was even more severe than that of 1633. (reference #415)

December 24, 1737. Second Valdivia Earthquake. This earthquake is known to have destroyed Valdivia and localities to the south, including most towns on the island of Chiloe. Few details are known, except that it must have been a great earthquake, Magnitude about 7 1/2-8. (reference #252)

December 24, 1737, 39.8 S, 73.2 W, magnitude 7.7 MS, intensity XI, tsunami, casualties. (reference #1206)

The accounts, found in the Archivo Nacional in Chile and Archivo de Indias in Spain, show that the 1737 earthquake damaged buildings along the strike of the subduction zone for 640 km. Notably, two of these accounts extend the area of 1737 earthquake damage far north to Concepcion [...]Although the 1737 earthquake damaged buildings along the great distance that separates Concepcion from Castro, written evidence for an associated tsunami is notably lacking, from both Chile and Japan. If there was a Pacific Ocean tsunami associated with the 1737 earthquake, it must have been quite small. None of the 12 accounts mentions unusual seas (reference #13286)