Significant earthquakes of 1913

February 24, 1913 Earthquake: Gonzanama, San Pedro, Molleture, Ecuador

February 24, 1913 · M7.7 · Deaths: many

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Gonzanama, San Pedro, Molleture, Ecuador on February 24, 1913 at 02:30:00 UTC, 50 km below the surface.

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
February 24, 1913
Time
02:30:00 UTC
Place
Gonzanama, San Pedro, Molleture, Ecuador
Magnitude
7.7
Focal depth
50 km (31 mi)
Intensity
7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
3.400° S, 79.600° W
Country
Ecuador

The toll

Deaths
Many (about 101 to 1,000)
Damage
Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
Houses destroyed
Many (101 to 1,000)

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.

On February 23, 1913, three earthquakes occurred. The one at 21h 30m [local time] was very violent. In Gonzanama, Sn. Pedro and Molleture many houses and temples collapsed and there were many killed. (reference #1106)

Reference #1221 lists earthquake on Feb 24, 1913, 02:30 UTC, 3.42 S, 79.61 W, magnitude 7.7, depth 24 km.

Reference #1221 lists earthquake on Feb 24, 1913, 02:30 UTC, 3.42 S, 79.61 W, magnitude 7.7, depth 24 km.

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1913The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1913Recent 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 2970.