July 13, 1936 Earthquake: Taltal, Chile

July 13th, 1936, 7:15 [local time]. There was a strong earthquake with source north of Taltal. At Taltal, the tremors lasted 3 minutes. Many buildings were destroyed, including two schools and the British Consulate. One child died and 40 people were injured. The zone of greatest destruction also included the salt petreplacers to the northeast and east of Taltal. The railway was damaged at many places, including a case of track rupture. Chanaral hardly suffered. The destruction was negligible at Copiapo: several walls and partitions cracked and partially crumbled;

various wares were smashed. At Antofagasta, the tremors were moderate; there was no damage. The earthquake was felt at Vallenar and La Serena. Oscillations in sea level began at Taltal 3 hours before the earthquake. They intensified half an hour after the earthquake and reached a maximum another hour later. Gutenberg, Richter (1954) : 13.VII; llh12m15s; 24.5 S., 70 W.; M=7.3. (reference #415)

July 13, 1936, 11:12:15 UTC, 24.5 70 W, depth 60 km, magnitude 7.3 MS. (reference #1206)