UTC time | 1960-11-20 22:01:57 |
---|---|
ISC event | 880820 |
USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
Local date | November 20, 1960 |
Local time | 17:02 |
Magnitude | 7.6 or 7.8 Mw [1] |
Depth | 35 km (22 mi) [1] |
Epicenter | 6°42′S80°37′W / 6.70°S 80.62°W [1] |
Areas affected | Peru |
Max. intensity | Felt [2] |
Tsunami | Yes |
Casualties | 66 dead, 2 injured [3] |
The November 1960 Peru earthquake occurred offshore northern Peru on November 20 at 17:02 local time. The magnitude of the earthquake was Ms 6.75 by using the conventional surface-wave magnitude measurement within a shorter duration of ~20 s. [4] [5] However, there is a large discrepancy between the magnitudes in Ms and Mw in this earthquake. The discrepancy was caused from the earthquake's long source duration of about 130 s, and by calculating the seismic moment, the magnitude would be Mw 7.6 or Mw 7.8, according to different sources. [1] [5] This earthquake belongs to a category of earthquakes with slow rupture velocities and potential of producing tsunamis larger than those expected from the moment magnitudes. [6]
A tsunami with a height of 9 meters (30 ft) was triggered and struck Puerto Eten, Lambayeque Department. [7] The tsunami caused damage along the coast of the Lambayeque Department. Three deaths were reported in Lambayeque Department. Thirteen deaths and 50 missing were reported in the Guañape Islands, La Libertad Department. The tsunami was also observed in Hilo, Hawaii. [7]