October 3, 1974 Earthquake: Lima, Callao, Peru
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Lima, Callao, Peru on October 3, 1974 at 14:21:29 UTC, 13 km below the surface. It killed 78 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
- October 3, 1974
- Time
- 14:21:29 UTC
- Place
- Lima, Callao, Peru
- Magnitude
- 8.1 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 13 km (8 mi)
- Intensity
- 9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 12.270° S, 77.790° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Deaths
- 78
- Injuries
- 2,414
- Damage
- $10 million
- Houses destroyed
- Many (101 to 1,000)
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.
On October 3, 1974, a strong earthquake in Peru occurred and caused loss of human life and great devastation. Its epicenter was located near the city of Lima. The earthquake caused great destruction in the capital and surrounding area. The intensity was measured at 5 to 8 points (MM) within the city limits. It was reported that at two places in Lima the intensity reached 9 points. In some places there was liquefaction of the ground. Landslides across roads were observed along the sea coast south of Callao. In the Callao region where the intensity was high, liquefaction and subsidence occurred. The better constructed buildings suffered moderate damage. 78 people were killed and 2,414 were injured. The earthquake caused a tsunami which was observed over an extensive region. (reference #417)
Reference #1250 (EM-DAT) lists $10 million damage.
78 killed, 2414 injured and extensive damage in Lima area. Maximum intensity VII. (reference #1053)
Estimates of the number killed range between 65 and 75. The economic losses may be in the range of 150 to 230 million dollars. (reference #13942)
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
- October 17, 1966, Lima,huacho,huaura, Chancay,supe,san Nicolas, Peru
- March 30, 1828, Lima, Callao, Peru
- July 10, 1586, Lima, Peru
- January 5, 1974, Lima, Yauyos, Peru
- April 18, 1993, Lima, Peru
- January 8, 1865, Peru
- May 28, 1948, Canete, Peru
- March 28, 1982, Coast, Lunahuana, Lima, Huancayo, Peru
- May 12, 2022, Lima, Callao, Chilca, Peru
- June 15, 2025, Lima, Callao, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1974The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1974Recent 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 4666.