August 24, 1869 Earthquake: Tacna, Iquique, Pica, Peru, Chile

1869, August 24, about 13:15 local time. A strong earthquake occurred in the region stretching about 550 km (300 miles) north of Iquique. There was a very strong earthquake lasting a minute at Tacna. Visible ground

waves traveled from north to south. One could hardly stay on one's feet. All the pendulums of clocks stopped. This was the strongest shock since the earthquake of August 13, 1868. Numerous recurrent shocks were felt; foreshocks had been felt since at least August 20. At Arequipa, the earthquake was the strongest in recent months; the shocks continued for about a week. A strong earthquake was felt at Maipo. Material damage was done at Pica. Maipo". Material damage was done at Pica.

The steamship "La Paita" with a 2070 ton gross weight steaming to the south, felt a strong seaquake lasting about 50 seconds at 19 deg 17 min S., 70 deg 21 min W., 5 1/2 km (3 miles) from the coast and 90 km (49 miles) south of Arica, at a depth of 135 m (75 fathoms). General panic ensued on board, since the passengers had never before experienced the like. In two hours, about another 20 shocks were felt; the last was noted at 15:40. For the first 7-8 minutes tremors occurred almost continuously at intervals of only a few seconds.

It was hard to remain standing during the seaquake; one person fell overboard; heavy objects lashed to the deck jumped a decimeter (several inches); the compass and rigging were put out of commission and the thermometers were smashed, but there was no damage to the engine. As far as the eye could see, the sea seethed around the ship; streams 40-60 cm high (from 1 1/2 to 2 feet) leapt up with a sound like that of heavy rain at sea. A dull subterranean roar was heard at the same time.

The coast, visible in the distance with steep bluffs 600-800 m

high, seemed to shake from top to bottom. Enormous rock chunks broke off the slopes and slid into the sea. Clouds of spray and dust rose up in the air, hiding the coast to the north as far as the horizon.

The above-mentioned steamship, "La Paita" arrived at Iquique on the night of August 24-25. The crew and passengers discovered that there had been strong shocks in the city, weaker than those felt on the ship, and that all the inhabitants had taken refuge in the hills surrounding the city. The panic had still not died down when the ship arrived. According to the inhavitants of Cobija where the steam ship arrived on the following night, the earthquake was not felt at all.

(above from reference #415)

1869, August 24, at 1:30 p.m. This poorly documented earthquake may have been a large aftershock near the southern end of the epicentral area of August 13, 1888. If so, it was the largest aftershock felt since the day after the earthquake. A tsunami was generated, according to reports from Arica, Iquique, and Pisagua. The S.S. Payta steaming south close to the Chilean coast, just north of Pisagua, felt the earthquake with great intensity. Passengers were unable to stand and navigational instruments and thermometers were broken. The sea seemed to boil around the ship and small jets of water squirted up, as it were, to a height of 8 or 9 inches above the surface. The coastline seemed to move and large masses of rock collapsed down the cliffs into the sea, raising clouds of dust which hid the coast from sight for many miles. The earthquake was strongly felt in Arequipa. The only reports of damage came from inland localities of northern Chile (Pica); it seems however, that the maximum intensity was in the vicinity of 6-7. The magnitude is estimated at 7 to 7 3/4. (reference #252)

1869, August 24, 18:45. 17.5 S, 72 W, depth 30 km, magnitude 7.5. (reference #1218)

1869. August 24, 16:30. 19.6 S, 70.23 W, magnitude 7.4, intensity VIII. (reference #1206)

1869, August 20-24. Peru, Chile, Tacna, Arica, Iquique, Pica, sea waves. (reference #1055)