Significant earthquakes of 1895

May 31, 1895 Earthquake: Northern, Chile

May 31, 1895

An earthquake struck Northern, Chile on May 31, 1895. 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
May 31, 1895
Place
Northern, Chile
Epicenter
18.000° S, 71.000° W
Country
Chile

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.

Reference #11690:

South American advices, brought by the steamer San Blas today, state that the south coast of Peru and the coast of Chile north of Valparaiso have been visited by a tidal wave, which has done a great deal of damage.

Earthquake shocks disturbed the coastline, and at Serena, on May 30th, a severe earthquake, lasting forty-five seconds occurred. At 3:55 on the same day another shock followed, felt all along the coast, and on May 31st there were several shocks, and after one of them the sea made an eruption inland to a distance of 200 meters.

Reference #11716:

May 28 to 31.-PERU ..A .ND CHILE.-San Francisco, July 19.-South American advices brought by the steamer San Blas today state that the south coast of Peru and the coast of Chile north of Valparaiso have been visited by a tidal wave which has done a great deal of damage.

Earthquake shocks preceded the marine disturbance, and at Serena on May 28, at 1.30 a. m., a severe earthquake lasting forty-five seconds occurred. At 3.55 o'clock another shock followed. The shocks were felt along the coast, and on May 31 there were several severe shocks, and after one of them the sea made an incursion inland to a

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1895The 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 10217.