June 18, 1678 Tsunami: Central Peru
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.4 earthquake began at Central Peru on June 18, 1678 at 01:45 UTC. 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
- June 18, 1678, 01:45 UTC
- Source
- Central Peru
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 8.4, 40 km deep
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 2.5
- Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
- 2
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 9.000° S, 79.000° W
The toll
- Deaths
- Many (about 101 to 1,000) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Many (101 to 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.
1678, June 17 (other sources give 8 January) [19:45]. 9 S, 79 W, magnitude 8.25 MS. An earthquake occurred in Santa (Peru), and the sea receded to within visible range from shore and it remained there for 24 hours, according to an Indian narrator. Then the sea level rose and the waves "rushed and rolled" with such force that three small vessels of 60-100 tons displacement, which were riding at anchor in the open road, were tossed over the hill on which the town was situated. Their hulls were seen in October 1685 by an English traveller (L. Vafer), who also published a story about this event. The town was completely washed away, but later it was rebuilt 5 1/2 km ( 3 miles) from shore and only a solitary sandy hill remains at the former site of the town. The land close to the shore was devastated for a considerable distance. In Lima, the earthquake was quite severe and partially destroyed the town, including public churches and private buildings. Losses were estimated at three million pesos. (reference #415)
1678, June 17. Santa Fe to the north of Lima, Peru. The sea receded and after 24 hours(?) returned with destructive violence. (reference #521)
1678, June 17. Peru. Earthquake near Santa Fe, north of Lima. Sea receded and returned with destructive force. (reference #39)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa | Peru | 39 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1678The 1600sTsunamis of PeruThe 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 325.