November 20, 1960 Earthquake: Peru

Name: November 20, 1960 Earthquake: Peru
Start: 1960-11-20
Location: Peru

November 20, 1960 · M6.7 · 66 deaths · $550,000

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Peru on November 20, 1960 at 22:01:56 UTC, 93 km below the surface. It killed 66 people, counting the tsunami it caused.

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 20, 1960
Time: 22:01:56 UTC
Place: Peru
Magnitude: 6.7
Focal depth: 93 km (58 mi)
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 6.800° S, 80.700° W
Country: Peru

The toll

Deaths: 66 with its tsunami and other effects
Injuries: 2 with its tsunami and other effects
Damage: $550,000 with its tsunami and other effects

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.

There was an earthquake in northwest Peru, felt by a large number of residents. Seeral hours later, a tsunami fell on the coast of Lambayeque Department. (Reference #415)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1960 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1960 Recent earthquakes near here This 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 4234.