Earthquakes

Earthquakes are among the most powerful and terrifying events on earth. Unfortunately for thousands of years they have been a common occurrence in Peru. Although scientists have tried for decades to predict earthquakes, until today we still don’t know when and where to expect the next tremor.

So, if you are living in Peru or just visiting the country, it might be wise to be prepared and know what to do.

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Earthquakes are among the most powerful and terrifying events on earth. Unfortunately for thousands of years they have been a common occurrence in Peru. To this day we can't predict earthquakes and never know when and where to expect the next tremor and how bad it will be.
In 1533 - Already two years before the foundation of Lima Hernando Pizarro, the brother of the founder of Lima, was taken aback by a heavy earthquake while searching for a suitable terrain for the new capital. A warning sign which the conquerors ignored! 1555 the city experienced an even stronger earthquake. Many buildings were badly damaged, so...
On the 24th of November 1604 a strong sea-quake with a magnitude of approximately 8.5 to 9.0 hit the southern Peruvian coast destroying Arica (back then Peru, today Chile) completely and causing severe damage in the whole area. The quake was felt even in Arequipa that just a few years before lay in ashes due to heavy earthquakes caused by the er...
On the 28th of October 1746 a massive earthquake, the largest to strike central Peru in recorded history, ravaged Lima, by now a bustling city with 50,000 citizens. This magnitude 8.6 quake completely destroyed Lima and everything else along the central Peruvian coast. According to reports half an hour after the quake, a large tsunami struck the...
In 1868 one of the strongest earthquakes (9.0) since the colonization hit the southern coast of Peru destroying almost completely Arica and Tacna as well as causing sever damages in Moquegua, Molendo, Ilo, Torata and Arequipa. Even Lima experienced strong shocks for around 5 minutes. Around 40,000 fatalities were reported. The tsunamis produced ...
1940 the city of Lima and the nearby areas were shaken by another destructive earthquake at 11.35 am. The magnitude 8.2 earthquake was so intense that it was felt throughout Peru and as far as Guayaquil, Ecuador in the north and Arica, Chile in the south. The temblor caused great destruction especially in Lima's city center, in Callao, Chorrillo...
In 2007 two powerful earthquakes shock the area south of Lima at 06.40 pm and 06.42 pm. The epicenters were located 150 km south of Lima. The magnitude 7.9 and 8.2 tremors overlapped and lasted together nearly two minutes. The Ica region was hit hardest, with 70% of the city of Pisco leveled to the ground, the city of Ica, Chincha and villages i...
7 results - showing 1 - 7

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