Lima Earthquake

Timeline

1. 1600Lima · LimaA strong earthquake destroyed many of Lima's churches, government offices, and homes; the viceroy's palace and convent buildings were severely damaged. The city fell into chaos, survivors sheltered in the open, and colonial authorities urgently organized rescue and public order.
2. 1600Chilean coast · coastThe tsunami triggered by the earthquake crossed the Pacific and struck the Arauco region of Chile hours later, destroying coastal settlements, compounding colonial vulnerability amid the contemporaneous Arauco War.
3. 1600–1601Lima · PeruThe Church held masses and distributed relief, while the viceroyalty allocated funds to repair the cathedral and administrative buildings. Reconstruction used thicker wall structures, and Lima gradually reshaped its cityscape in the Baroque style, with rebuilding continuing into 1601 and beyond.