August 21, 1871 Earthquake: Callao, Peru
An earthquake struck Callao, Peru on August 21, 1871. 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 21, 1871
- Place
- Callao, Peru
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 13.000° S, 77.000° W
- Country
- Peru
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.
August 21, 1871, 20:32 [local time], 13 S, 77 W, magnitude 7. At Callao, a very strong earthquake lasted 15 seconds. It was also felt at Cerro Azul and Pisco. About the same time, the "Colon" felt a strong seaquake to the west of Chala Cape, and waves appeared immediately on the surface of the sea. (reference #415)
August 21, 1871, 13 S, 77 W, runup height 2 m. (reference #552)
August 21, 1871. Peru, Callao; 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.
- 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 12, 1664, Ica, Pisco, Peru
- October 3, 1974, Lima, Callao, Peru
- December 18, 1594, Ica, Peru
- March 30, 1828, Lima, Callao, Peru
- July 10, 1586, Lima, Peru
- January 5, 1974, Lima, Yauyos, Peru
- April 18, 1993, Lima, Peru
- January 8, 1865, Peru
- May 28, 1948, Canete, Peru
- December 10, 1950, Ica,chimbote,huaraz,cajamarca,cuzco,moquegua, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1871The 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 8216.