1970 Ancash earthquake
| UTC time | 1970-05-31 20:23:29 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 796163 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 31 May 1970 |
| Local time | 15:23:29 |
| Duration | ~ 45 seconds |
| Magnitude | 7.9 Mw |
| Depth | 45 km (28 mi) |
| Epicenter | 9°24′S 78°54′W / 9.4°S 78.9°W |
| Type | Normal |
| Areas affected | Peru |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Peak acceleration | 0.1 g at Lima |
| Tsunami | .38 m (1 ft 3 in) |
| Casualties | 66,794–70,000 dead 50,000 injured |
The 1970 Ancash earthquake (also known as the Great Peruvian earthquake) occurred on 31 May off the coast of Peru in the Pacific Ocean at 15:23:29 local time. Combined with a resultant landslide, it is the most catastrophic natural disaster in the history of Peru. Due to the large amounts of snow and ice included in the landslide that caused an estimated 66,794–70,000 fatalities, it is also considered to be the world's deadliest avalanche.