1837 Valdivia earthquake struck south-central Chile on November 17 . Together with earthquakes in 1575 and 1737 the earthquake is among the historical predecessors to the great 1960 earthquake . The rupture zone was roughly from Valdivia to the south . It was felt in the cities of Concepción , Valdivia and Ancud . The earthquake was also felt by the crew whaling ships in Guafo Island and Chonos Archipelago . Various landslides were triggered in Chiloé and people are reported to have been thrown to the ground in Valdivia . In contrast in Concepción the shakings were moderate . As reported in various coastal localities the ground rose as result of the earthquake . Decades later while surveying southern Chile ’s coasts Francisco Vidal Gormaz was told of islands that been submerged and some that had emerged as concequence of the earthquake . The earthquake caused a tsunami that struck Hawaii , what is now French Polynesia and Japan . In Japan the tsunami flooded rice fields , destroyed salmon traps and broke into salt evaporation ponds causing significant economic losses
great 1960 earthquake
1960 Valdivia earthquake
1837 Valdivia earthquake