April 23, 1860 Earthquake: Lima, Callao, Peru

April 23, 1860. On the 21st, about 2:00 [local time] in Peru (Lima, Callao and other points) the first of a large series of shocks took place. A severe earthquake occurred on the 22nd at 13:50 [local time]. It caused great destruction at Callao, but the sea apparently remained calm [the only report possibly contradicting this is that of April 22, 1859.]

On the 23rd, in the morning, about 7:00 [local time], at Lima and Callao, there was a prolonged and severe earthquake of approximately the same strength as the shock of the 22nd. All the homes were cracked to some extent at Lima, and the church steeples collapsed. At Callao, walls which had withstood the first shock crumbled.

At Manta, trees were uprooted, one of the hills collapsed, and stinking water flowed out of a crack about 300 m long and one meter (a few feet) wide. This was the strongest earthquake here since the catastrophe of 1746.

On San Lorenzo Island, the earthquake was so severe that it caused large rock slides. A shock occurred at Chorillos, but it did no damage.

At Callao, after 11:00, the sea withdrew a little from shore, then, changing direction, it barely flooded the shore. These oscillations in level caused general panic in the city.

Oscillations in sea level were not observed during the numerous subsequent shocks at Callao.

1859, (possibly 1860) April 22, about 14:00 (local time). There was a strong earthquake at Callao. Many buildings were destroyed, while those surviving were cracked. All the churches in Callao and Lima were damaged. [Most likely, the report refers to the earthquake of April 22 and 23, 1960.]

(above from reference #415)

April 22, 1860. Peru, Lima, Callao, Chorillos, Manta, Lurin, Carabayllo, Huaubipa, 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)

April 22, 1860. Lima and Callao. II. (reference #1908)

April 22, 1860, 07:00 UTC, 12.3 S, 77.3 W, intensity VI. depth 40 km. (reference #1208)

April 22, 1860, 19:00 UTC, 12.1 S, 77.3 W, intensity VI. (reference #1208)

April 24, 1860, 11:00 UTC, 12.0 S, 77.0 W, intensity VI. (reference #1208)

April 22, 1860, 07:00 UTC, 12.3 S, 77.3 W, intensity VI, magnitude 6.73 MS, depth 40 km. (reference #1221)