September 18, 1833 Tsunami: S. Peru
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake began at S. Peru on September 18, 1833 at 10:45 UTC. The water rose as high as 9 meters. Its effects were recorded at 1 place. It killed 700 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
- September 18, 1833, 10:45 UTC
- Source
- S. Peru
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7.7, 60 km deep
- Maximum water height
- 9 m (29.5 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Very doubtful tsunami
- Source location
- 18.251° S, 71.010° W
The toll
- Deaths
- 700 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Injuries
- 25 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses destroyed
- 1,001 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.
>"By the English brig Arab, from Arica, we are informed of the desolation of that place, and Facna (sic), by a dreadful earthquake which was experienced there on the 18th inst. That but 13 or 14 houses are left in Arica, appears certain, and the number of lives lost is estimated at from 6 to 700. Tacna is said to be totally destroyed. The beautiful valley of Zapa is laid waste. The famous White Bluff (about 200 feet in height) on the right hand as you enter the harbour of Arica is now nearly on a level with the ocean; and two small islands on the same side are sunk so that a frigate can sail over them. The first shock was felt about half past 10 o'clock, P. M., and was succeeded by three others at intervals of two, three and five minutes, the last of which was most severe.The sea rose about thirty feet higher than usual." (reference #11719)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arica doubtful | Chile | 76 | 9 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1833The 1800sTsunamis 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 5657.