January 28, 1840 Earthquake: Lima, Peru
An earthquake struck Lima, Peru on January 28, 1840 at 08:00 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
- January 28, 1840
- Time
- 08:00 UTC
- Place
- Lima, Peru
- Focal depth
- 40 km (25 mi)
- Intensity
- 5 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 12.300° S, 77.300° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
On January 28, 1840 at 3:00 [local time] there was a strong earthquake at Lima, also felt at Chorillos. It was accompanied by a hurricane wind, blowing from the southwest, and a downpour. The sea was so agitated at Chorillos, and the air temperature fell so greatly, that bathing stopped on the beach and the people sought shelter. (reference #415)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- 1657, Lima,callao, Peru
- 1654, Lima, Chile, Peru
- October 29, 1746, Lima, Callao, Peru
- October 20, 1687, Lima, Peru
- August 15, 2007, Ica, Pisco, Lima, Peru
- October 3, 1974, Lima, Callao, Peru
- March 30, 1828, Lima, Callao, Peru
- July 10, 1586, Lima, Peru
- January 5, 1974, Lima, Yauyos, Peru
- April 18, 1993, Lima, Peru
- January 8, 1865, Peru
- May 28, 1948, Canete, Peru
- March 28, 1982, Coast, Lunahuana, Lima, Huancayo, Peru
- May 12, 2022, Lima, Callao, Chilca, Peru
- June 15, 2025, Lima, Callao, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1840The 1800sRecent 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 7538.