Copiapo earthquake of 1859

The Copiapo earthquake of 1859 was an earthquake of 7.6 degrees on the Richter scale that struck the city of Copiapó at 20:00 on October 5, 1859. Earthquake quality was perceived in the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo. The telluric movement was perceived from Tacna to Santiago de Chile. The damage was estimated at 1.5 million pesos.

It is unknown if there were fatalities and injuries, the movement also raised clouds of dust that covered the city leaving it totally dark.

It caused the destruction of 115 homes, while 224 were declared unfit for housing. The railway line to Caldera was destroyed in an extension of 25 kilometers. Many buildings were also damaged in Tierra Amarilla. Tsunami

On the coast, the sea showed strange movements, due to this tsunami the sea level dropped about 6 meters and the bottom of the bay was exposed in an extension of more than 150 meters from the low tide level. Then this caused the destruction of the port facilities in Caldera.

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