May 25, 1751 Earthquake: Concepcion, Chillan, Talca, Tutuben, Curico, Chile

1751, May (erroneously March) 24 or 25 (after 01:00, local time) there was a destructive earthquake [37 S, 73 W, magnitude 8.5] and tsunami in Concepcion. The tremors began to be felt on the evening of 23 May. Some of the inhabitants took the precautionary measure of going to bed that evening without undressing. At 00:50 on the 24th (or 25th), a shock of medium strength occurred. Ten minutes later, at 01:00, the city was destroyed by a most severe earthquake. Strong shaking continued for about 139 6 minutes, including at least six (or three) separate shocks. The shaking was so severe that it was impossible to stand or move about. Almost 11 buildings were either damaged or destroyed. The greatest damage occurred between 36 deg and 39 deg S. (at least from Curico to Concepcion) and moderate damage from Valparaiso to Arauco; strong tremors were recorded approximately between 34 deg and 40 deg S. In Arauco, no stone was left untouched. Houses, churches and the brick walls of the fortress of Plazade-Santa Juana were destroyed. Chillan, Cauquenes and Talca were also destroyed. In Curico, the church and almost all houses were destroyed and much additional damage was caused by aftershocks. On the plain near Curico, a 100 m long crack, from which water spouted, appeared in the ground. In Santiago, people had difficulty keeping on their feet. One of the towers of the cathedral collapsed, several houses and buildings fell down, many walls cracked or began to slant, and for several days the population lived in the streets. The quake destroyed many churches and distilleries in the Central Valley. In Valparaiso, a church which had been restored after 1730, and several barracks were destroyed. It is possible that the earthquake was also destructive on the islands of Juan Fernandez. In Concepcion, luminous phenomena were sighted in the sky, such as a ball of fire which appeared to be rolling down the Andes Mountains and into the ocean. Earth tremors occurred on an almost continuous basis for a whole month after the earthquake. The shock that occurred on the 26th was almost as strong as that of the 25th. The ocean began to recede about half an hour after the quake.

There was an earthquake in Valparaiso, during which boats were tossed up on land by the ocean as far as the Church of San Francisco, which was standing on higher ground. [This date is probably incorrect and the reference is to the tsunami of 24.V.1751].

The previous is from reference #415.

11751, May 25, 05:30 UTC, 36.83 S, 71.63 W, magnitude 8.5, intensity XI. (reference #1206)

1751, May 24, the ancient town of Conception, otherwise called Pence, was totally destroyed by an earthquake, and the sea rolled over it. The ancient port was rendered entirely useless, and the inhabitants built another town about 10 miles from the sea-coast, in order to be beyond the reach of similar inundations. (reference #1503)

The centre of activity then shifted southwards to Concepcion (280 miles from Santiago), visited by destructive earthquakes with seawaves in 1730 and twice in 1751 (Mar. 25 [erroneous] and May 24)... The next great earthquake occurred on 1751 May 24 at 1 am., by which the town [Concepcion] was ruined. The neighbouring town of Chillan was also destroyed. Shortly after 1.30 am., the sea withdrew rapidly from the shore and left the bay dry, returning at 1.37 with such force that it entered the town more rapidly than a horse could gallop and inundated it entirely. It again retired and with such violence that it carried away all the walls, even those not thrown down. The waves returned twice with greater violence and flooded the town, and continued to sweep the coasts, though to a less extent, until about noon the next day. The houses in the islands of Juan Fernandez were entirely ruined, the sea rising far beyond its usual limits. (reference #516)