On May 10, 1877 CE, a major tsunami struck northern Chile, leaving a significant historical record of destruction and high-energy wave measurements. According to the NOAA/NCEI Global Historical Tsunami Database, the event was directly associated with an earthquake measuring magnitude 8.3. The historical tsunami record indicates a maximum water height of 18.0 meters and resulted in 2,385 recorded deaths.
Event Parameters and Historical Measurements
Official historical records cataloging the event classify its validity with a high degree of certainty (validity rating of 4) and trace its origins to an undersea or coastal earthquake occurring at 00:59 hours on May 10, 1877 CE. The generated waves reached a maximum water height of 18.0 meters in the affected region of northern Chile. This height represents the peak recorded runup or inundation measurement for the event rather than a uniform height along the entire coastline.
Impact and Casualties
The combination of the magnitude 8.3 earthquake and the subsequent tsunami waves led to a severe human toll, with 2,385 fatalities documented in the historical database. The event stands in the historical record as a major tsunami with extensive loss of life, illustrating the severe seismic and hydrodynamic hazards inherent to the tectonic subduction zone off the coast of northern Chile.
Frequently asked questions
When did the 1877 northern Chile tsunami happen?
The tsunami in northern Chile occurred on May 10, 1877 CE.
What was the magnitude of the earthquake associated with the tsunami?
The associated earthquake had a magnitude of 8.3.
How high were the tsunami waves?
The maximum recorded water height was 18.0 meters.
How many fatalities were recorded?
The historical database records 2,385 deaths from the event.
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.