What is the 1960 Valdivia earthquake?

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What is the 1960 Valdivia earthquake?

The 1960 Valdivia earthquake, also known as the Great Chilean earthquake, was a powerful earthquake that occurred on May 22, 1960, in the Valdivia region of Chile. It is considered the strongest earthquake ever recorded, with a magnitude of 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale. The earthquake resulted in widespread devastation, causing significant damage to buildings, infrastructure, and triggering tsunamis that affected coastal areas as far as Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines. The event also led to the eruption of several volcanoes in the region. The 1960 Valdivia earthquake remains a significant event in the study of seismic activity and its impact on both land and oceanic regions.