1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake)

A magnitude 9.5 earthquake — a great (mega-thrust class) event — struck near 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake) on May 22, 1960, at a shallow depth of about 25 km. An earthquake this size would have been felt strongly across the surrounding region; shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they tend to cause the strongest shaking and the most damage. Shallow magnitude 9.5 events near a coastline can also pose a tsunami risk. Casualties, damage and the recovery depend on local building standards, population and distance from the epicentre — the news coverage, references and photos below capture what happened on the ground.