Significant earthquakes of 1894

October 27, 1894 Earthquake: La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Argentina

October 27, 1894 · M7.5

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Argentina on October 27, 1894 at 19:30 UTC.

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
October 27, 1894
Time
19:30 UTC
Place
La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Argentina
Magnitude
7.5 (Ms)
Intensity
9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
32.000° S, 68.500° W
Country
Argentina

The toll

Injuries
Some (about 51 to 100)
Damage
Severe (about $5 to $25 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.

Reference #1203 lists earthquake on Oct 27, 1894, 19:30 UTC, 30.5 S, 68.4 W, depth 30 km, magnitude 7.5, intensity IX.

Reference #1211 lists earthquake on Oct 27, 1894, at 08h (local time) in Argentina and in northern Chile. Rioja was in ruins and buildings in Mendoza were damaged.

The largest earthquake in Argentina's history affected the northwest of San Juan, causing damage and casualties in San Juan and La Rioja. Minor damage in Catamarca, Cordoba, San Luis and Mendoza. Note: reference is made to victims, it means people affected, i.e.: injured, dead and/or missing. (reference #14044)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1894The 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 2457.