1877 Iquique earthquake

Date	May 9, 1877 (1877-05-09)
Magnitude	8.5 MS, 9 M?
Epicenter	19°36′S 70°12′W / 19.6°S 70.2°W / -19.6; -70.2Coordinates: 19°36′S 70°12′W / 19.6°S 70.2°W / -19.6; -70.2
Countries or regions	Peru, Tarapacá Region and Bolivia, Antofagasta Region (both now part of Chile)
Tsunami	Yes
Casualties	2,541

The 1877 Iquique earthquake occurred at 21:16 local time on 9 May (0:59 on 10 May UTC). It had a magnitude of 8.5 on the surface wave magnitude scale.^[1] It has also been estimated to be a 9 magnitude earthquake.^[2] It had a maximum felt intensity of XI (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale^[3] and triggered a devastating tsunami. A total of 2,541 people died, mainly in Peru and what is now northernmost Chile, with some deaths also reported from Hawaii and Japan.

Historical context [edit]

Affected areas in what is now the Antofagasta region of Chile had during this period been subject to the Atacama border dispute between Bolivia and Chile. Under the 1874 boundary treaty between Bolivia and Chile, the border between Bolivia and Chile in 1877 followed the 24th parallel south. The terms of that treaty required that Bolivia not levy taxes on Chilean companies mining nitrates between the 23rd and 24th parallels (including the city of Antofagasta) for 25 years, except for agreed duties to be shared between the two countries.^[4]

Following extensive damage in the 1877 earthquake and tsunami, the municipal authorities in Antofagasta voted for a tax of 10 centavos per quintal (approximately 46 kg or 100 lb) of nitrates exported to fund reconstruction of the town.^[5] The Chilean Antofagasta Nitrate & Railway Company, a major nitrate mining company in the region, refused to pay, backed by the Chilean government. This dispute resulted in the War of the Pacific, fought from 1879–84,^[5] by which Chile gained control of territory as far north as Tacna, including Bolivia's entire coastline.

Tectonic setting [edit]

Coastal regions of Peru and Chile lie above the convergent boundary, where the Nazca Plate is being subducted beneath the South American Plate along the line of the Peru-Chile Trench. The rate of convergence across this boundary is measured at about 8 cm (3.1 in) per year. This boundary has been the site of many great megathrust earthquakes, in addition to events caused by faulting within both the subducting and over-riding plates.^[2]

Damage [edit]

The earthquake shaking caused significant damage over most of the coastal parts of the Tarapacá and Antofagasta Regions. The tsunami caused a 10 m (33 ft) wave along about 500 km (310 mi) of coast, from Arica in the north to Mejillones in the south.^[6] At Arica the water reached the cathedral. The hulk of the U.S. gunboat Wateree, which had been beached hundreds of metres inland by the final wave of the tsunami triggered by the 1868 Arica earthquake, was moved several kilometres to the north along the coast and nearer the shoreline.^[7] The tsunami caused 5 deaths in Hilo, Hawaii, where 37 houses were destroyed. In Japan, on the Boso Peninsula, many deaths were recorded.^[8]

Characteristics [edit]

Earthquake [edit]

The shaking lasted for five minutes at Caleta Pabellón de Pica, a coastal town 70 km (43 mi) south of Iquique. The area of felt intensity of VIII on the Mercalli intensity scale or greater, extended from about 50 km (31 mi) south of Arica to just south of Cobija. This indicates a rupture length of about 420 km (260 mi).^[9]

Tsunami [edit]

The tsunami affected the coasts of Peru and northern Chile and was observed across the Pacific Ocean, in Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Hawaii, Mexico, California and Japan.^[8] At Arica eight separate large waves were recorded.^[10]

Future earthquake hazard [edit]

The rupture area of the 1877 earthquake has been recognised as one of the major seismic gaps on the plate boundary, known as the "Northern Chile Seismic Gap". The M_w = 7.7 2007 Tocopilla earthquake occurred at the southern edge of the gap, but is not considered to have necessarily reduced the risk of a great megathrust earthquake within this area.^[2] A recurrence period of 135 years has been estimated for great earthquakes along this part of the plate boundary, suggesting that a similar earthquake to the 1877 event is possible in the near future.^[11]

References [edit]