1946 Ancash earthquake
| UTC time | 1946-11-10 17:42:56 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 898660 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | November 10, 1946 |
| Local time | 12:42 PET |
| Magnitude | 7.0 Ms, 6.8–7.0 Mw |
| Depth | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Epicenter | 8°24′36″S 77°32′06″W / 8.410°S 77.535°W |
| Type | Normal |
| Areas affected | Peru |
| Max. intensity | MMI XI (Extreme) |
| Landslides | 44 |
| Aftershocks | Yes |
| Casualties | 1,396 dead |
The 1946 Ancash earthquake occurred in the High Andes mountains of central Peru on November 10 at 12:43 PET. It had a surface-wave magnitude of 7.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). The intraplate shock was caused by normal faulting along a pre-existing thrust fault within the mountains, and produced a 21 km (13 mi) zone of surface rupture. Many villages, including Quinches, Pampas, Sihuas and Conchucos experienced partial or total devastation. At least 1,396 people were killed, including 500 people who died from landslides, one of which buried the village of Acobamba, resulting in more than 200 deaths. The shaking was also felt as far as Lima and Guayaquil. Many aftershocks were felt within the next two years, including a Mw 6.1 event in 1948 that killed seven people.