The Arica Earthquake of 1864 resulted in over 25,000 deaths.
The 1860s was an important decade in the annals of history; the American Civil War changed the political landscape of America, eventually leading to the abolishment of slavery; the industrial revolution led to important improvements in agriculture, manufacturing and technology; and Europe started on the path that would eventually lead to World War I. The 1860s were also a time of upheaval in the natural world, as cyclones, earthquakes, erratic weather and floods wreaked havoc on populations throughout the world.
Calcutta Cyclone (1864)
"The water, however, carried us sideways into our old hut in its fall over the road embankment, and to three old hut poles and to two coconut trees that were near, we clung for dear life...for two long hours or more."
This is an account from Mr. J. P. Grant, a survivor of one of the deadliest cyclones ever recorded, which devastated the city of Calcutta, India in 1864. Over 40,000 straw huts were destroyed, and 90 percent of the ships in the Calcutta harbor were destroyed. In the ensuing weeks, the loss of life due to famine and diseases, such as cholera, would almost equal the initial death toll, resulting in as many as 60,000 total fatalities.
Great Sheffield Flood (1864)
Construction of the Dale Dyke Dam, near Sheffield, England, commenced in 1859 and continued for nearly four years. By March 1864, the finishing touches were being made and the reservoir was in the process of being filled. However, on March 11, 1864, a local man on his way home from work noticed a small crack on the embankment of the dam "only about wide enough to admit a penknife" according to Samuel Harrison, who published an account of the disaster later that year. Contractors and engineers working on the dam were called investigate, and while they were doing so, a large section of the dam collapsed, unleashing over 650 million gallons of water on the town of Sheffield and the surrounding villages. As many as 270 people perished in the flood, and over 500 buildings and 20 bridges were destroyed. The dam was eventually repaired and is still in use to this day.
Finnish Famine (1866-1868)
The famine that ravaged Finland in the late 1860s was the result of a number of years of poor harvests and colder than normal weather in the years preceding the famine. Heavy rains in Finland led to a smaller crop than usual in 1866, and food was scarce over the winter. Spring came late in Finland in 1867; the lakes and rivers in Finland were still frozen over in late May, and seeds were not sown in the fields until mid-June. That summer was unusually cold, and the frost that came in late August killed most of the crops; as a result, many went hungry. In some areas as much as 15 percent of the local population succumbed to hunger, which led to mass migration to other countries including the United States. In total, more than 150,000 succumbed during the famine, and the effects of the famine were felt for many years, as a recent investigation has found that the average life expectancy in Finland dropped considerably for those who were born during the famine.
Arica Earthquake and Tsunami (1868)
On August 13, 1868, the town of Arica, on the southern coast of Peru (now part of Chile), was struck by a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0. Many people perished due to the initial earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks; however, the real damage was caused by the ensuing tsunamis. There were 25,000 reported casualties in Arica and surrounding areas on the Peruvian coast; three American warships anchored in Arica were swept hundreds of feet inland. The effects of the earthquake were felt as far away as New Zealand, Hawaii and Japan, where buildings suffered damage due to the high waves.
Tags: were destroyed, Arica Earthquake, came late, during famine, March 1864
