Valdivia Earthquake
The earthquake that struck near Valdivia, Chile, in 1960 was the most powerful temblor in recorded history. The quake left about 2 million people homeless.
Photogrpah courtesy NOAA
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).
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.
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.
