On May 22, 1960 a great Mw 9.5 earthquake, the largest earthquake ever instrumentally recorded, occurred off the coast of southern Chile. This earthquake generated a tsunami that was destructive not only along the coast of Chile, but also across the Pacific in Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines.
The number of fatalities in Chile associated with both the earthquake and tsunami has been estimated to be between 490 and 5,700, an estimated 2 million people were left homeless, and the damage was USD $550 million. In Hawaii, the tsunami caused 61 deaths, 43 injuries, and USD $23.5 million in damage. Additional damage of USD $1 million, 2 deaths, and 4 injuries resulted on the U.S. west coast from 1-2 m waves. In Japan, almost a day after the earthquake, the tsunami caused 139 deaths and destroyed almost 3,000 homes. At least 21 people died in the Philippines due to the tsunami...more
