Everything Everywhere Daily The 1970 Ancash Earthquake
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Sep 21, 2025 On May 31, 1970, a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Peru's coast, triggering one of its worst disasters. The deadly quake caused massive destruction, including the collapse of glaciers that unleashed a catastrophic mudflow in Yungay. Rescue efforts were hampered by regional vulnerabilities, with many coastal cities affected. The tragedy prompted international aid and shaped government policies, leading to long-term social impacts, including the establishment of Peru's civil defense agency.
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Why Peru Is Exceptionally Seismic
- Peru's seismic risk stems from the Nazca Plate subducting beneath the South American Plate along the Ring of Fire.
- This plate interaction built the Andes and concentrates earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches, and volcanic hazards in western Peru.
Yungay Destroyed By Glacier Avalanche
- The 1970 Ancash quake (magnitude 7.9) struck off Chimbote and shook for 30–90 seconds.
- The quake destabilized Huascaran's glacier and sent a mud-and-rock avalanche into Yungay at ~335 km/h, instantly killing thousands.
Survivors Saved By A Circus Clown
- About 15–20,000 people in Yungay died and only ~400 survived, many children rescued after a clown led them to higher ground.
- Surrounding villages raised the total death toll to roughly 30,000 from the avalanche and quake combined.