What the record shows for Peru
The strongest earthquake on record near Peru is a magnitude 8.2 in 1940, centred 21 km SE of Huacho, Peru - 86 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 1,258 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 500 km of Peru - roughly 63 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 28 tsunamis within 500 km of Peru between 1584 and 2010. The most significant was in 1970 near N. Peru, triggered by an M7.9 earthquake, which killed around 66,794 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Peru lies along the Nazca plate subduction zone that runs the length of South America’s Pacific coast.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Peru.
Earthquake risk in Peru - FAQ
Is Peru at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 63 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 500 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.2 in 1940.
What was the biggest earthquake in Peru?
The strongest earthquake on record near Peru is M8.2, in 1940 (21 km SE of Huacho, Peru), from USGS.
Does Peru get tsunamis?
Yes - 28 tsunamis since 1584 (most recently 2010) within 500 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 66,794 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Peru?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.