August 19, 1869 Earthquake: Arequipa, Peru
An earthquake struck Arequipa, Peru on August 19, 1869. 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 19, 1869
- Place
- Arequipa, Peru
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 16.400° S, 73.900° 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.
1869, August 19, "dead of night". A terrible earthquake occurred at Arequipa. It shook the whole city and lasted 70-80 seconds. Shocks had not been felt in the city in the two preceding weeks. Immediately after this earthquake, and at least until September 8 (letter dated September 10), shocks were frequent; eight were noted in one night. At
Arica there were more than 40 more or less strong shocks in a day. They were also felt at Tacna. Strong shocks were recorded at Ica on the same day. Fearing a tsunami, the inhabitants of Arica went to Tacna. In other reports, apparently due to misinterpretation of the text cited, it is incorrectly asserted that the earthquake was accompanied by a tsunami. (reference #415)
1869, August 19. Peru, Chile, Arica, and Ica; sea waves. Intensity I which corresponds to an earthquake of intensity sufficient to crack walls, break chimneys,
to shatter old buildings or to produce cracks in the ground. (reference #1055)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- July 10, 1821, Camana, Ocona, Caraveli, Peru
- June 23, 2001, Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna, Ayacucho, Peru
- January 13, 1960, Arequipa,chuquibamba,caraveli,cotahuasi, Peru
- December 2, 1914, Pararca,paysa,colta,oyala, Peru
- January 15, 1958, Arequipa, Peru
- February 16, 1979, Arequipa, Peru
- May 7, 1647, Peru
- January 14, 2018, Yauca, Peru
- July 18, 2017, Arequipa, Peru
- August 11, 2017, Arequipa, Peru
- April 3, 1999, Camana, Arequipa, Peru
- July 5, 2001, Caraveli, Chala, Arica, Iquique, Parinacota, Peru
- August 6, 1913, Caraveli, Chuquibamba, Ocona, Atico, Peru
- July 28, 1913, Arequipa, Peru
- June 28, 2024, Arequipa, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1869The 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 6168.