Significant earthquakes of 1868

August 14, 1868 Earthquake: Arica, Chile

August 14, 1868 · M8.5

A magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck Arica, Chile on August 14, 1868 at 01:30 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
August 14, 1868
Time
01:30 UTC
Place
Arica, Chile
Magnitude
8.5 (Ms)
Epicenter
18.600° S, 71.000° W
Country
Chile

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.

1868, August 14, 01:30 UTC. Two great earthquakes with magnitudes up to 8.5 struck Arica, Peru (now Chile), at about 4:45 p.m. and again about 8:45 p.m. local time (71 deg W Sun time which converts to Aug 13 21:30 UTC and Aug 14 01:30 UTC) and generated catastrophic tsunamis that affected locations throughout the Pacific Basin. The towns of Arica, Arequipa, Moquegua, Mollendo, and Ilo were largely destroyed by the earthquake. The effects are listed with the event on Aug 13 at 21:30 UTC. (reference #237)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1868The 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 10008.