[4] The earthquake caused severe damage from La Serena to Chillan, while the tsunami affected more than 1,000 km (620 mi) of Chile's coastline.

[3] The earthquake took place along the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, at a location where they converge at a rate of seventy millimeters a year.

[5] The earthquake caused severe damage over a wide area, Valparaíso, Coquimbo, Illapel, Petorca and Tiltil were all affected.

Only a few deaths were recorded due to the earthquake, reportedly because a strong foreshock had caused people to leave their homes.

[2] The tsunami occurred immediately after the mainshock, with a maximum run-up height recorded at Concepción of 16 m. It was also observed at Callao, Peru[6] and in Honshu, Japan where fields were flooded in Rikuzen and the Oshika Peninsula.