January 25, 1939 Earthquake: Chillan, Chile

January 25, 1939, 03:32:14 UTC, 36.25 S, 72.25 W, magnitude 7.8, intensity X, casualties. (reference #1206)

January 24 at 11:32 p.m. (January 25 at 03:32 GMT). Chillan Earthquake. This earthquake destroyed Chillan and caused great damage in the surrounding towns of the Central Valley, and in the Concepcion area. There were about 30,000 dead, chiefly in Chillan and Concepcion. The area of greatest damage was of the order of 45,000 sq km and included the Central Chilean region west of the Andean foothills, between the towns of Linares and Los Angeles. The high number of deaths may partly be attributed to its occurring close to midnight. A survey of damage in Chillan showed that adobe houses were mostly demolished, but other types of construction also suffered important damage; this must be connected with the virtual absence of engineering design or provisions against lateral force. The Coast Range batholith was uplifted by more than 5 feet near the Central Valley margin; but no fault displacement was observed, and the uplift was not visibly connected with known structures. No tsunami and no coastal uplift were described. Apparently there were no changes in level in the Concepcion area. There was no obvious relationship between intensity and surface or subsurface geology. The earthquake was felt throughout the southern part of South America. (reference #252)

Navarrete notes that Quizapu Volcano (a major vent on the northern flank of Cerro Azul) had a violent eruption on January 11th. He proposed that the earthquake might be related to the volcanic activity. (reference #3697)

January 25, 1939, 03:32:14 UTC, 36.3 S, 72.3 W, depth 60 km, magnitude 8.3 MS. (reference #88)

January 25, 1939, 03:32:14 UTC, 36.25 S, 72.25 W, magnitude 7.75 MS. (reference #130)

January 25, 1939, Chile, magnitude 8.3 MS, 28,000 deaths. (reference #1003)

January 25, 1939, Chillan, Chile, magnitude 8.3 MS, 30,000 deaths. (reference #1002)

Januar6y 25, 1939, 28,000 deaths, $100 million damage. (reference #1051)

January 24, 1939, 30,000 deaths, $920 million damage. (reference #1250)