February 7, 1959 Earthquake: Peru-Ecuador
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Peru-Ecuador on February 7, 1959 at 09:36:51 UTC, 19 km below the surface. 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 7, 1959
- Time
- 09:36:51 UTC
- Place
- Peru-Ecuador
- Magnitude
- 7.4 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 19 km (12 mi)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 4.000° S, 81.500° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
- Houses damaged
- 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.
February 7, 1959, 4:38 [local time], Feb. 9 9:36:51 UTC, 4 S, 81.5 W, magnitude 7.1 MS. There was a strong earthquake on the northwest coast of Peru, between Tumbes amd Chiclayo. At Talara, light damage to several concrete homes (6 degrees). Underground rumbling and strong tremors frightened the residents at Tumbes, Paita, Piura, Talara, Sulyan, Chulucanas and Chiclayo. Some families abandoned their homes, despite the early hour. It was felt very strongly at Guayaquil. Traces of the tsunami were found on the tide gauge record at Talara. (reference #415)
February 7, 1959, 04:38 [local time], 4 S, 81.5 W, magnitude 7.25 MS. The coastal region in the NW between Tumbes and Chiclayo was shaken by another shock which caused slight damage to several dwellings in the city of Talara. Intensity VI on the MM scale. The noise and shaking caused alarm in the towns of Tumbes, Paita, Piura, Talara, Sullana, Chulucanas, and Chiclayo, in which some families abandoned their homes in panic despite the hour. (reference #1111)
February 7, 1959, 09:36:51 UTC, 4 S, 81.5 W, magnitude 7.25-7.5 MS. Felt strongly at Guayaquil. (reference #45)
February 7, 1959, 09:36:54 UTC, 4.205 S, 81.112 W, depth 19 km, magnitude 7.38 MS, intensity VII. (reference #1221)
February 7, 1959, 09:36:54 UTC, 3.7 S, 81.71 W, magnitude 7.4 MS, intensity VII, seiche. (reference #1208)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
More
Significant earthquakes of 1959The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1959Recent 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 6384.