November 24, 1604 Tsunami: S. Peru

1604 (erroneously 1605), November 23 or 24 (erroneously 26 and 29) [13:30 local time]. There was an earthquake (17 S 72 W, mag 8.5) and tsunami in Peru and in the northern part of Chile. The tsunami flooded the coastline for a distance of 1200 km. Arica suffered most of all. According to a report of the governor of Arica, the ocean receded a distance of two musket shots further than its normal low water point, and then, while the tremors were still occurring, raged with such force that it covered the islet of Alacran, situated opposite the high part of the city. A barrack-type building (wooden or adobe) was carried away with this first wave. The second shock, which occurred 15 minutes after the first ebb, caused the water to recede again, only to reappear in rising form, sweeping the town and carrying away warehouses, stores, and a large church, and advancing another 100 m inland and destroying all houses. Subsequently, the water receded to the point where the anchors of all ships were exposed... Three persons drowned in Arica itself, and more than twenty along the coast... In Ilo, the water rose to a point where it advanced almost 2 km inland along a valley uprooting 100-year old fig trees. Eleven indians were drowned... Three high tides and ebbs were reported to have occurred in Camana. The water advanced along a valley for more than 2 km destroying everything in its path. Forty persons were washed away and drowned.

1705, November 26 (or 16). An earthquake occurred in Arequipa and Arica, and the wave generated during that quake flooded and destroyed a large part of Arica. (Perrey made the suggestion, with which one must agree, that this information refers to the earthquake and tsunami of 26 November 1605).

The previous is from reference #415.

1604, November 24, 01:30 p.m. (Wednesday). First Arica Earthquake. (Arica was probably affected by earlier earthquakes, such as the great Arequipa, Peru, earthquake of January 22, 1582; but no documents exist.) The exact date is given in an inventory of military supplies salvaged

from the tsunami, dated December 5, 1604 and signed by the

Corregidor of Arica. The port of Arica, formerly located near the center of the bay, was completely destroyed by the tsunami and the town was rebuilt at its present location, close to the famous Rock or "Morro" of Arica. Arequipa, in the Peruvian interior at a distance of about 260 km, was almost completely destroyed; only the convent of San Francisco remained standing. People were thrown to the ground by the earthquake; the losses were estimated at more than a million gold pesos. The tsunami is not accurately described, but it is known that at least three successive waves flooded the coast line along an extension of 300 "leguas", or 1200 km. The Peruvian port of Pisco more than 800 km northwest of Arica, was damaged by the tsunami according to one report. Damage from the tsunami extended across the Pacific Ocean. The effects of this great earthquake, as far as they are known, were similar to those of the great Arica earthquake of August 13, 1868. The

magnitude is estimated at 8 1/4-8 1/2. (reference #252)

1604, Nov. 24, 16:13 UTC. 18 S, 71.5 W, magnitude 8.4, runup 16 m, tsunami itensity 4. (reference #552)