April 6, 1943 Earthquake: Illapel, Chile

1943, April 6, 1943, 12:07 [local time]. There was a strong magnitude 7.9 earthquake with source 200 km to the north of Santiago. Combarbala, Ovalle, Illapel and Salamanca were largely destroyed. Heavy landslides occurred to the northwest of Illapel, blocking roads, in particular, the coastal highway and the highway from Illapel to the sea. A rock dump collapsed at the Kosinera mine near Ovalle. Five miners were killed. In all, 11 people died as a result of the earthquake. A building of the Ministry of Defense was damaged at Santiago. The earthquake was strong at La Serena. It was felt as far as Iquique, Valdivia and Buenos Aires, where crockery was broken in some high buildings and the ink spilled from inkwells. There were many aftershocks, some strong. There was a small tsunami which damaged fishing boats at Los Vilos. (reference #415)

1943, April 6. 31.5 S, 71.4 W, 18 deaths. (reference #45)

1943, April 6, 12:07 p.m. (16:07 UTC). Illapel earthquake. This great earthquake destroyed most of the towns of Combarbala, Ovalle and Illapel, about 200 km north of Santiago. There was damage in a wide region, including Santiago. Curiously, there is an almost complete lack of references to this earthquake. The epicentral area is mountainous, sparsely inhabited and of minor economic importance. In addition, its occurrence in the middle of the day must have contributed to its being forgotten. There are no references in the technical literature. An unpublished isoseismal map by Greve shows an extension of the region of damage similar to the 1939 Chillan earthquake. The shock was felt as far as Buenos Aires, where dishes were broken and ink spilled from inkwells in some of the taller buildings. Northwest of Illapel, toward the coast, there were large landslides and the roads were blocked, particularly on the coastal highway and the road from Illapel to the coast. A minor tsunami caused damage to fishing vessels in Los Vilos. Damage extended throughout the Province of Coquimbo. A tailings dam collapsed at the mine "Cocinera", near Ovalle, killing five. The total number of dead was 11. The only conspicuous damage in Santiago was pounding damage along an expansion joint near the west entrance of the Ministry of Defense, Plaza Bulnes. This damage recurs at every important earthquake in Santiago, and is still visible essentially as in 1943. The computed epicenter is offshore, opposite the mouth of the Limari River. The magnitude was 8.3 and the focal depth was around 60 km. There were many strong aftershocks during the following week, some of which caused additional damage in weakened houses throughout the area. (reference #252)

1943, April 6. Illapel, Chile. 11 dead, magnitude 8.3. (reference #1002)

1943, April 6. Magnitude 8.2 Mw. (reference #1314)

1943, April 6, 16:07:15 UTC. 30.75 S 72 W. 8.2 Mw, 7.9 Ms, 7.6 mB (reference #9910)

1943, April 6, 16:07:17.81 UTC. 31.432 S, 71.475 W,

depth 35 km, 8.1 Mw. (reference #10476)