October 29, 1746 Tsunami: Central Peru

On October 28, 1746 (erroneously 1724), at 22:30 [Local Time] in Lima, a rumbling sound was accompanied by strong shocks. In 3-4 minutes the capital was completely destroyed. The port of Callao suffered most of all from this catastrophe. Like Lima, Callao consisted mostly of single-storey houses on a low-terrace, whose height was no greater than 3 m (9-10 feet) above the high water mark. The town was enclosed by a fortress wall, whose base was sometimes washed by the strong ocean tides. Normally, the water level at Callao rises 1.4 m (4-5 feet). Up to 5000 persons lived in the town. Callao was damaged by the earthquake to the same degree as Lima. Approximately one half hour after the earthquake, the ocean "swelled", rose approximately 10 m, smashed the city wall and inundated the city. When the water receded the majority of houses and other buildings were dislodged from their foundations and washed away. A sizeable portion of the city wall, including the gate, had been carried away by the water. Almost the entire population of the town perished in this disaster. Since the water advanced 4 km inland, it overtook even those who had tried to flee to Lima. Only about 200 persons managed to save themselves by clasping onto wooden objects which were being tossed about between the shore area and the island of San Lorenzo, a distance of more than 8 km away. (reference #415)

In Callao 6000 people were killed by the tsunami and 19 ships including warships were destroyed. (reference #1102)

The city of Callao was destroyed by two waves, one of which was 80 feet high. All the ships in the harbor were either destroyed or washed ashore. Destructive waves also reported from Cavallos, Cuanape, Changay, and Guara. (reference #39)

"The Lima wave finished the destruction of Callao already begun by the earthquake. The sea retired slowly and returned with a roar. It swept everything before it. There were 23 ships in port mostly crushed and sunk, but the largest were carried beyond the walls of the city, four vessels, and left in the fields." (reference #3903)

Note: Ref#12938 discusses the claims of the tsunami affecting the island of Tenerife (Spain) in the Atlantic are highly questionable.