On May 22, 1960, the most powerful earthquake in recorded history—magnitude 9.5—struck southern Chile. The rupture zone stretched from estimates ranging from 500 kilometers (311 miles) to almost 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) along the country’s coast. The event was named after the city most affected by the quake, Valdivia. 
 
The Valdivia earthquake left two million people homeless, injured at least 3,000, and killed approximately 1,655. The economic damage totaled $550 million (more than $4.8 billion, adjusted for 2020 inflation).
 
The Valdivia earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that raced across the Pacific. Waves wracked coastal communities as far away as New Zealand, Japan, and the Philippines. In Hawai'i, the tsunami devastated the coastal town of Hilo, killing 61 people. 
adjust
Verb

to change or modify something to fit with something else.
approximately
Adjective

generally or near an exact figure.
city
Noun

large settlement with a high population density.
coast
Noun

edge of land along the sea or other large body of water.
devastate
Verb

to destroy.
earthquake
Noun

the sudden shaking of Earth's crust caused by the release of energy along fault lines or from volcanic activity.
economic
Adjective

having to do with money.
inflation
Noun

increase in the price of goods and services.
magnitude
Noun

intensity of an earthquake, represented by numbers on a scale.
massive
Adjective

very large or heavy.
town
Noun

human settlement larger than a village and smaller than a city.
trigger
Verb

to cause or begin a chain of events.
tsunami
Noun

ocean waves triggered by an earthquake, volcano, or other movement of the ocean floor.

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    Editor

    Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

    Producer

    Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society

    Last Updated

    April 6, 2020

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