November 20, 1822 Tsunami: Central Chile
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake began at Central Chile on November 20, 1822 at 02:30 UTC. The water rose as high as 3.6 meters. Its effects were recorded at 6 places in at least 2 countries. It killed 72 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.
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
- November 20, 1822, 02:30 UTC
- Source
- Central Chile
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 8.5
- Maximum water height
- 3.6 m (11.8 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 6
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 2
- Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
- 1.8
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Definite tsunami
- Source location
- 33.000° S, 72.000° W
The toll
- Deaths
- 72 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Injuries
- 200 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Extreme (about $25 million or more) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses destroyed
- Many (101 to 1,000) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses damaged
- Many (101 to 1,000) 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.
1822, November 19, after 22:30 [local time]. There was a destructive earthquake in Valparaiso and surrounding districts. At the time of the most severe shocks, the ocean receded in the epicentral zone, only to rise and advance upon the shore again and again. In Valparaiso, at the time of a full ebb, the sea suddenly rose and just as suddenly receded. A launch from the admiral's ship, which was on its way to render assistance to people on shore, was thrown up to the gates of the customs house, located 3.5 m higher than the ordinary high tide mark. Suddenly, the sea began to recede very rapidly, stranding small vessels and boats. All this occurred within 15 minutes. Several minutes later, a second wave of reduced intensity appeared. In all, three large floods and ebbs of a height of 3.6 m (12 feet) were recorded. On the morning of the 20th, the sea level fluctuations were normal again. (reference #415)
1822 Nov. 19. Chile. Epicenter about 15 miles north of Valparaiso. Waves were reported along the coast from Rio Copiapo to Valdivia. The sea near Valparaiso rose to great heights, then receded so far that small boats were left dry upon the strand. It continued rising and falling to a gradually diminished extent for a quarter of an hour. The earthquake was also felt on board ships lying off Callao. Melipilla, Quillota, and Casablanca were destroyed by the earthquake. (reference #39)
1822, Nov. 19. During the first shock on the night of Nov. 19, the sea in Valparaiso harbour rose to a great height, so as to carry boats farther in than any boat had been before. It then receded so as to leave the small vessels, that were afloat before, dry on the beach. A few minutes later, there was a second wave, though not reaching the level of the first, possibly on account of the rise of about 3 ft. in the bed of the harbour. The seawaves were of short duration and, after a quarter of an hour, ceased to be noticeable. (reference #516)
1822, Nov 19, 10:15 pm local time. A moderate tsunami (wave height about 12 feet) was generated. Three major withdrawals of the sea were observed. No tsunami damage was reported. (reference #252)
1822, Nov 19, 10:15 pm local time [Nov 20 03:01 UTC]. Tsunami source near Valparaiso. Tsunami observed: Copiapo to Valdivia, and Valparaiso, Chile; Callao, Peru. (reference #79)
1822 Nov. 19. Chile. Ships thrown on shore [of Valparaiso, Chile]. M8.5. Maximum runup 3.5 m. (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso | Chile | 34 | 3.6 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Concon | Chile | 46 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Quintero (Cintero) | Chile | 50 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Rio Copiapo | Chile | 638 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Valdivia | Chile | 763 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Callao doubtful | Peru | 2,379 | Other |
More
Every tsunami in 1822The 1800sTsunamis 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 641.