February 21, 1996 Earthquake: Chimbote, Callao, Northern, Peru
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Chimbote, Callao, Northern, Peru on February 21, 1996 at 12:51:01 UTC, 10 km below the surface. It killed 12 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
- February 21, 1996
- Time
- 12:51:01 UTC
- Place
- Chimbote, Callao, Northern, Peru
- Magnitude
- 7.5 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 10 km (6 mi)
- Intensity
- 4 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 9.593° S, 79.587° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Deaths
- 12 with its tsunami and other effects
- Injuries
- 57 with its tsunami and other effects
- Houses destroyed
- 15 with its tsunami and other effects
- Houses damaged
- 22 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.
Four fishermen killed near Chimbote and three others missing near Callao from a regional tsunami. Two people injured at
Coishco. About 150 beach huts, some homes and small boats were destroyed by waves in the Chimbote area. Felt (IV) at Chimbote and Huarmey; (III) at Casma; (II) at Huacho and Huaraz. (reference #1053)
Indeed, based on our eyewitness interviews, along the coast, the maximum Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) was IV. Many eyewitnesses did not feel the earthquake; the shaking, where felt, was mild. In general, the earthquake was felt more strongly to the south of Chimbote than to the north. Even in Chimbote-closest to the epicenter and worst hit by the tsunami-the shaking was not noticed by everyone. (reference #48)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 31, 1970, Northern, Pisco, Chiclayo, Peru
- January 7, 1725, Trujillo, Ancash, Lima, Peru
- February 14, 1619, Trujillo, Piura, Santa, Peru
- October 17, 1966, Lima,huacho,huaura, Chancay,supe,san Nicolas, Peru
- April 18, 1962, Casma,huaraz,quiruvilca,trujillo, Peru
- June 7, 2020, Chimbote, Coast, Peru
- September 24, 1963, Huayllacayan,cajacay,malyas,malvas,huaraz, Peru
- August 21, 1985, Chimbote, Coast, Peru
- June 18, 1678, Lima,salinas-Huaura,lima,callao,chancay, Peru
- September 3, 1967, Off Coast, Peru
- February 14, 1658, Trujillo, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1996The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1996Recent 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 5435.