May 14, 1633 Tsunami: Southern Chile
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Southern Chile on May 14, 1633. Its effects were recorded at 1 place.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- May 14, 1633
- Source
- Southern Chile
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- The earthquake
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 1.5
- Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 41.800° S, 73.800° W
The toll
- Deaths
- Few (about 1 to 50)
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million); Moderate (about $1 to $5 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses destroyed
- Few (about 1 to 50); Some (about 51 to 100) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
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.
May 14, 1633 (at daybreak), event validity likely. The inhabitants of Fort Carelmapu on the island of Chiloe, were awakened by a deafening sound, and at the same time a strong earthquake destroyed the fort. The massive gates, which could be raised only with the help of a large detachment of soldiers, were torn from their supports. Deep cracks appeared in the earth, houses and churches were destroyed, and corpses were hurled from their graves. Subsequently, the water level rose, carrying away houses and people. Two ships were lost in the harbour. Thick clouds darkened the sky, culminating in a long hailstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning. A ball of fire seemed to roll slowly from the top of one of the nearby hills into the ocean. (reference #415)
May 14, 1633, 41.8 S, 74 W. (reference #552)
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Carelmapu, Isla DE Chiloe | Chile | 9 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1633The 1600sTsunamis of ChileThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 246.