The earthquake was felt throughout the so-called Captaincy General of Chile, an administrative territory of the Spanish Empire.

Extreme ground motion was felt between the Choapa and Maule rivers for 500 km (310 mi) extending north–south.

For a megathrust event, its damage extent is comparable to the 1906 Valparaíso earthquake, which places the estimated magnitude at Ms  8.0.

[5] Some days after the earthquakes the city was affected by heavy rains which made the problems of sanitation worse.

Due to the high level of damage caused by the earthquake the government considered moving the capital a few kilometers farther north (in the area that is currently known as Quillota).