May 23, 1847 Earthquake: Callao, Peru
An earthquake struck Callao, Peru on May 23, 1847. 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
- May 23, 1847
- Place
- Callao, Peru
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 12.100° S, 77.100° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
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.
1847, May 23, 3:00 [local time]. 12.1 S, 77.1 W., tsunami intensity 1.5. A strong seaquake was felt by the American frigate "Akuehet" 110 km (60 miles) west southwest of San Lorenzo Island. On the same day, strong and unusual movement of water was observed at Callao, where this happens rarely. (reference #415)
1847, May 23. In a newspaper in Lima, El Commercio, dated 4th June 1847, there is a letter from Ayuencha, dated the 14th of May preceding, in which it is said that a city called Huancarania comes to be overthrown by an earthquake which lasted 4 days. The earth has opened up and swallowed some animals, Talavera and several other places have also suffered. (reference #1532)
1847, May. Peru, Huancarama and Carabaya. Intensity II which corresponds to buildings may be unroofed or shattered and some may fall, the ground may be badly cracked in places and small landslips occur. (reference #1055)
1847, May. Huancaramo, departement de l'Apurimao (a l'ouest du Cuzco). Intensity II. (reference #1908)
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
- May 24, 1940, Peru
- October 3, 1974, Lima, Callao, Peru
- March 30, 1828, Lima, Callao, Peru
- July 10, 1586, Lima, Peru
- December 24, 1937, Huancabamba,oxapampa,el Progreso,san David, Peru
- January 5, 1974, Lima, Yauyos, Peru
- April 18, 1993, Lima, Peru
- July 19, 2026, Junin, Peru
- January 8, 1865, Peru
- May 28, 1948, Canete, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1847The 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 6059.