February 15, 1953 Earthquake: Lima, Peru
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Lima, Peru on February 15, 1953. It caused a tsunami.
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
- February 15, 1953
- Place
- Lima, Peru
- Magnitude
- 5.5 (Ms)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 12.000° S, 77.500° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
February 15, 1953, 4:33 [local time], magnitude 5.5. At Lima, a strong earthquake was felt lasting a little more than 15 seconds. The intensity of tremors (more than 5 degrees) and the accompanying rumble caused many residents to leave their homes. On the basis of the records of the accelerograph in Lima, the horizontal acceleration of the earth's surface was estimated at 25-30 cm/sec2, vertical acceleration 13 cm/sec2, with periods of 0.07-0.10 seconds. The force of tremors at other points was as follows: San Isidro 5+; Matucana, Pachacamac, Mala, Limatambo 5; Chorillos, Chancay 4+; Ancon, Pucusana+, Santa Eulalia, Yauyos, Lachaci+ 4; Chincha Alta, Supe 3-4; Canete 3; Chimbote 2. The earthquake was felt on an area of about 60,000 km2. At Chancay, according to a report by one of the seismic correspondents, the sea receded. (BCIS): 9h32m25s; 12 S, 77.5 W. (reference #415)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- 1657, Lima,callao, Peru
- 1654, Lima, Chile, Peru
- October 29, 1746, Lima, Callao, Peru
- October 20, 1687, Lima, Peru
- August 15, 2007, Ica, Pisco, Lima, Peru
- May 24, 1940, Peru
- October 17, 1966, Lima,huacho,huaura, Chancay,supe,san Nicolas, Peru
- October 3, 1974, Lima, Callao, Peru
- March 30, 1828, Lima, Callao, Peru
- July 10, 1586, Lima, Peru
- December 24, 1937, Huancabamba,oxapampa,el Progreso,san David, Peru
- January 5, 1974, Lima, Yauyos, Peru
- April 18, 1993, Lima, Peru
- January 8, 1865, Peru
- May 28, 1948, Canete, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1953The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1953Recent 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 6589.