November 1, 1960 Earthquake: Concepcion, Chile
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Concepcion, Chile on November 1, 1960 at 08:45:59 UTC, 55 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
- November 1, 1960
- Time
- 08:45:59 UTC
- Place
- Concepcion, Chile
- Magnitude
- 7.4 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 55 km (34 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 38.500° S, 75.100° W
- Country
- Chile
The toll
- Deaths
- Few (about 1 to 50)
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 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.
November 1, 1960, 08:45:59.3 UTC, 38.5 S, 75.1 W, depth 55 km, magnitude 7.25-7.5 MS. Near coast of Chile. Slight damage at Concepcion, Lebu, and Valdivia. (reference #45)
November 1, 1960, 08:45:59 UTC, 38.5 S, 75.1 W, depth 55 km, magnitude 7.2 MS. (reference #88)
November 1, 1960, 08:45:59 UTC, 38.5 S, 75.1 W, depth 55 km, magnitude 7.4 MS, casualties. (reference #1206)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 22, 1960, Puerto Montt, Valdivia, Chile
- April 20, 1949, Angol, Traiguen, Chile
- December 27, 2020, Off Coast Central, Chile
- October 28, 1562, Chile
- August 18, 1974, La Union, Valdivia, Chile
- August 20, 1920, Off Coast Central, Chile
- May 10, 1975, Central, Chile
- May 3, 2004, Canete, Chile
- June 15, 2004, Carahue, Imperial, Temuco, Chile
- May 21, 1960, Central, Chile
- 1520, Chile
More
Significant earthquakes of 1960The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1960Recent 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 6390.