November 23, 1977 Earthquake: Mendoza, San Juan Province, Argentina

Name: November 23, 1977 Earthquake: Mendoza, San Juan Province, Argentina
Start: 1977-11-23
Location: Mendoza, San Juan Province, Argentina

November 23, 1977 · M7.5 · 65 deaths · $80 million

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Mendoza, San Juan Province, Argentina on November 23, 1977 at 09:26:26 UTC, 15 km below the surface. It killed 65 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: November 23, 1977
Time: 09:26:26 UTC
Place: Mendoza, San Juan Province, Argentina
Magnitude: 7.5 (Mw)
Focal depth: 15 km (9 mi)
Intensity: 9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: None recorded
Epicenter: 31.119° S, 67.839° W
Country: Argentina

The toll

Deaths: 65
Injuries: 300
Damage: $80 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.

70 deaths, 100 injured, 80 million USD total damage (reference #1250)

Seventy reported killed, more than 200 injured (reference #45)

1977-11-23 09:26:26.41 UTC, 31.119 S 67.839 W, magnitude 7.45 Mw (reference #10476, v.11)

It destroyed the buildings in the Caucete Department, the duration of the earthquake was much longer than one minute in its destructive phase. It caused the death of 65 people and more than 300 seriously injured. It affected the departments of 25 de Mayo, Sarmiento, Pocito and the north of Mendoza, where more than 50% of adobe buildings were destroyed. The maximum intensity of the earthquake was IX Mercalli degrees. (reference #14044)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1977 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1977 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 4784.