October 2, 1933 Earthquake: Ecuador
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Ecuador on October 2, 1933 at 15:29:21 UTC, 33 km below the surface. 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
- October 2, 1933
- Time
- 15:29:21 UTC
- Place
- Ecuador
- Magnitude
- 6.9 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 2.000° S, 81.000° W
- Country
- Ecuador
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.
On October 2, 1933 at 10:31 [local time] as reported by the Chief Geologist of Ecuador, G. Shepard, a strong earthquake took place on the Santa Elena Peninsula. The submarine cable was broken 25 km (14 miles) south of Salinas. Ground oscillations were visible in Ancon and the water flowed over the northeastern edge of a large reservoir. Among the subsequent shocks, the shock which occurred on October 3 at 5:36 [local time] was only slightly weaker than the main earthquake. At La Libertad, the sea retreated from shore immediately after the earthquake. Gutenberg, Richter (1954): 2.X; 15h29m21s; 2 S., 81 W.; M=6.9.
(reference #415)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 14, 1942, Guayaquil, Ecuador
- March 18, 2023, Tumbes, Azuay, El Oro, Guayas, Peru, Ecuador
- August 18, 1980, W, Guayaquil, Ecuador
- December 12, 1953, Peru-Ecuador
- August 4, 1998, Bahia DE Caraquez, Canoa, Ecuador
- July 14, 2022, Guayas, Ecuador
- January 30, 1943, Guayaquil, Ecuador
- January 24, 2005, Puerto Lopez, Salango, Near West Coast, Ecuador
- January 7, 1901, Esmeraldas, Ecuador
- November 1, 1904, Ecuador
- January 16, 1956, Ecuador
More
Significant earthquakes of 1933The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1933Recent 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 6099.