Significant earthquakes of 1985

March 3, 1985 Earthquake: Central Coast, San Antonio, Valparaiso, Chile

March 3, 1985 · M8 · 180 deaths · $1.5 billion

A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Central Coast, San Antonio, Valparaiso, Chile on March 3, 1985 at 22:47:09 UTC, 40 km below the surface. It killed 180 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
March 3, 1985
Time
22:47:09 UTC
Place
Central Coast, San Antonio, Valparaiso, Chile
Magnitude
8 (Mw)
Focal depth
40 km (25 mi)
Intensity
8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Epicenter
33.132° S, 71.708° W
Country
Chile

The toll

Deaths
180
Injuries
2,575
Damage
$1.5 billion
Houses destroyed
Very many (over 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.

1985, March 3. Near coast of central Chile. Ms 7.5 (BRK). At least 177 people killed, 2,575 injured and extensive damage in central Chile, including the cities of San Antonio, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Santiago and Rancagua.

Maximum intensity VIII in the Valparaiso area. Liquefaction occurred in saturated beach dune sands in the Vina del Mar and San Antonio areas. Reports of extensive ground cracks and subsidence throughout most of the epicentral area. Numerous landslides in the coastal mountains. Felt in Chile along a 2,000 kilometer strip from Copiapo to Valdivia. Felt (VI) at Mendoza and (V) at San Juan, Argentina. Also felt by people in high-rise buildings in Buenos Aires,

Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tsunami generated with

wave heights at selected tide stations as follows: 1.1

m at Valparaiso; 48 cm at Hilo, Hawaii; 15 cm at Sand

Point, Alaska; 12 cm at Adak, Alaska; 11 cm at Rikitea,

Gambier Islands; 10 cm at Papeete, Tahiti; 10 cm at

Kushiro, Nemuro and Miyako, Japan; 5 cm at Seward,

Alaska; 4 cm ot Kodiak, Alaska; and 3 cm at Honolulu

and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (reference #1053)

1985, March 3. A magnitude 7.8 Ms (USGS) earthquake at 22:47 UT caused at least 177 fatalities and 2,575 injuries in Chile. The earthquake was felt from Copiapo to Valdivia. (reference #1315)

Deaths, injuries, and extensive damage in central Chile, including the cities of San Antonio, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Santiago and Rancagua. Liquefaction occurred in saturated beach dune sands in the Vina del Mar and San Antonio areas. Reports of extensive ground cracks and subsidence throughout most of the epicentral area. Numerous landslides in the coastal mountains.

1985, March 3, 22:47:09.54 UTC. 33.132 S, 71.708 W, depth 40 km, magnitude 8.0 Mw, 7.8 Ms. (reference #9910)

1985, March 3, 22:47:08.77 UTC. 33.257 S, 71.858 W, depth 35 km, magnitude 7.95 Mw. (reference #10476)

200 killed, $1.2 billion damage (overall losses), $90 million (insured losses). (reference #1231)

180 killed, $1.5 billion damage, 1,482,275 affected. (reference #1250)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1985The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1985Recent 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 5056.