May 21, 1950 Earthquake: Cusco, Peru
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Cusco, Peru on May 21, 1950 at 18:37:40 UTC. It killed 129 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
- May 21, 1950
- Time
- 18:37:40 UTC
- Place
- Cusco, Peru
- Magnitude
- 6 (Ms)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 13.500° S, 72.000° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Deaths
- 129
- Injuries
- 265
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
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.
Reference #45 lists magnitude 6.0. Destructive in Cuzco and San Sebastian. 83 killed, 200 injured.
Reference #1102 lists damage. [Cuzco] was destroyed.
Reference #1111 and #13779 lists magnitude 6.0, 120 deaths, 275 injured, and damage.
Reference #1153 lists magnitude 6.0, 94 deaths, and severe damage.
Reference #1250 lists 83 deaths, 200 injured.
Reference #14039: The first shock was felt between 1:35 and 1:40 P.M. The duration was 5 to 8 seconds. The epicentral area, where effects of the earthquake were most severe, was in the Cusco Basin, including Cusco, San Sebastian, and haciendas to the south and southeast, through a total area of about 12 square kilometers. Newspaper reports placed the number of persons killed at 129 and the number injured at about 265.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- September 17, 1707, Cuzco, Peru
- November 4, 1913, Amyaraes, Abancay, Casaya, Soraya, Peru
- January 31, 1943, Yanacoa, Pampamarca, Peru
- June 24, 1939, Pomacanchi, Peru
- April 5, 1986, Cuzco, Peru
- April 9, 1928, Peru
- September 28, 2014, Paruro Province, Peru
- October 15, 1971, Apurimac, Peru
- August 9, 2001, Antabama, Peru
- March 31, 1650, Sicasica, Cuzco,collao,lima, Bolivia, Peru
- April 17, 2024, Quispicanchi, Peru
- 1581, Yanaoca, Peru
- March 24, 1739, Santa Catalina, Peru
- April 13, 1861, Peru
- 1747, Ayapata, Carabaya Province, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1950The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1950Recent 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 3940.