September 1, 1754 Earthquake: Acapulco, Mexico
An earthquake struck Acapulco, Mexico on September 1, 1754 at 07:00 UTC. 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
- September 1, 1754
- Time
- 07:00 UTC
- Place
- Acapulco, Mexico
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 16.800° N, 99.200° W
- Country
- Mexico
The toll
- 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.
1754, September 1. On the 17th (or 24th) of August, earthquakes began at Acapulco. The strongest occurred on the night of August 30-September 1 at 2:00. It destroyed almost the entire city and was felt strongly at Mexico City. The source of the earthquake was apparently situated near Acapulco and San Marcos. Strong aftershocks were registered. The earthquake gave rise to a large tsunami. (reference #415)
1754, September 1. Mexico, Acapulco, intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed towns and devastated districts, sea waves. (reference #1055)
Very strong earthquakes in 1697, 1754, 1776, 1785, 1907 15 of April destructive in San Marcos, Gros., magnitude 7.8. Intense in March and April 1908. (reference #1234)
1754, August 30. Strong in Mexico. (reference #1195)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- October 24, 1980, S, Huajapan DE Leon, Oaxaca, Mexico
- July 28, 1957, Acapulco,mexico City
- October 3, 1864, Puebla,veracruz,acultzingo,acatzingo, Mexico
- August 2, 1968, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Mexico
- February 16, 2018, Oaxaca, Mexico
- March 28, 1787, San Marcos, Oaxaca, Mexico
- June 7, 1982, Guererro, Orziba, Oaxaca, Guadalupe, Mexico
- April 15, 1907, Guerrero, Mexico
- July 19, 1882, Puebla,huahuapan,huamuxtitlan,xalpatlahuac, Mexico
- May 11, 1962, Southern Mexico
- December 23, 1937, Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico
- May 5, 1854, Veracruz,oaxaca, Mexico
- April 25, 1989, Mexico City, Acapulco
- May 19, 1962, Southern Mexico
- September 14, 1995, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico City
More
Significant earthquakes of 1754The 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 1330.