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Phenomena

1960 Valdivia Earthquake

Seismology

A megathrust earthquake that struck southern Chile on 22 May 1960, the strongest earthquake ever instrumentally recorded at moment magnitude 9.4 to 9.6. The roughly ten minute rupture generated devastating local tsunamis along the Chilean coast and a Pacific wide tsunami that struck Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines, and it remains a foundational event in the study of megathrust earthquakes and tsunami science. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Event Date
1960-05-22 1
Magnitude or Scale
Moment magnitude 9.4 to 9.6, the strongest earthquake ever instrumentally recorded 1
Location
Near Lumaco, southern Chile 1
Disputed
Death Toll
Estimated between 1,000 and 6,000 1
Connections

Associated With

Earthquake, Phenomena

The 1960 Valdivia earthquake is the most powerful earthquake ever instrumentally recorded.

Caused By

Faulting, Processes

Read from this phenomenon's own Wikipedia article (1960 Valdivia Earthquake); earth5 pass cause judgment: Faulting.

Source Wikidata: 1960 Valdivia Earthquake

In Discipline

Oceanography, Disciplines

Generated a Pacific-wide tsunami studied as an oceanographic event in its own right.

Source 1960 Valdivia Earthquake (Wikipedia)
Seismology, Disciplines
Source 1960 Valdivia Earthquake (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Chile

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source 1960 Valdivia Earthquake (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
On 22 May 1960, an earthquake and tsunami occurred in Chile, devastating the city of Valdivia.
Sources
1. 1960 Valdivia Earthquake (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    Most studies have placed it at 9.4-9.6 on the moment magnitude scale, making it the strongest earthquake ever recorded, while some studies have placed the magnitude lower than 9.4.
  • In Group: Great Historical Earthquakes, Lead sentence
    On 22 May 1960, an earthquake and tsunami occurred in Chile, devastating the city of Valdivia.
View the Source
Wikidata: 1960 Valdivia Earthquake
Wikidata Q212618, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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