June 24, 1939 Earthquake: Pomacanchi, Peru
An earthquake struck Pomacanchi, Peru on June 24, 1939 at 04:22:00 UTC. It killed 37 people.
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
- June 24, 1939
- Time
- 04:22:00 UTC
- Place
- Pomacanchi, Peru
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 12.500° S, 72.000° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Deaths
- 37
- Injuries
- 40
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Few (about 1 to 50)
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.
Violent tremor which shook the provinces of Acomayoo and Canas, situated in the Cordilleras of Vilcabamba, Cuzco. The destruction was localized at the village of Pomacanchi (3077 m a.s.l.), built on the shores of the lake of the same name. It caused 37 deaths and 40 injuries. The movement was felt intensely in the neighboring villages of Yanaoca, Tinta, Checacupee, Combapata, and Sicuani. At Pomacanchi the last movements brought down adobe structures which had withstood the first movement. (reference #1111)
An earthquake on June 23, 1939, reduced the town of Pomacanchi to ruins, killed 37 persons, and injured about 40 others. The major shock was at 11:00 P.M. and was followed by about 50 aftershocks during the next 24 hours. The destruction was confined to Pomacanchi, and the shock was felt only in near-by towns. (reference #14039)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
More
Significant earthquakes of 1939The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1939Recent 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 3644.