<P> The epicenter of this megathrust earthquake was near Lumaco, approximately 570 kilometres (350 mi) south of Santiago, with Valdivia being the most affected city . The tremor caused localised tsunamis that severely battered the Chilean coast, with waves up to 25 metres (82 ft). The main tsunami raced across the Pacific Ocean and devastated Hilo, Hawaii . Waves as high as 10.7 metres (35 ft) were recorded 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) from the epicenter, and as far away as Japan and the Philippines . </P> <P> The death toll and monetary losses arising from this widespread disaster are not certain . Various estimates of the total number of fatalities from the earthquake and tsunamis have been published, ranging between 1,000 and 7,000 killed . Different sources have estimated the monetary cost ranged from US $400 million to 800 million (or $3.31 billion to $6.62 billion today, adjusted for inflation). </P> <P> The 1960 Chilean earthquakes were a sequence of strong earthquakes that affected Chile between 21 May and 6 June 1960 . The first was the 8.1 M Concepción earthquake, and the strongest was the Valdivia earthquake . </P> <P> The first Concepción earthquake was at 06: 02 UTC - 4 on 21 May 1960 . Its epicenter was near Curanilahue . Telecommunications to southern Chile were cut off and President Jorge Alessandri cancelled the traditional ceremony of the Battle of Iquique memorial holiday to oversee the emergency assistance efforts . The second and third Concepción earthquakes occurred the next day at 06: 32 UTC - 4 and 14: 55 UTC - 4 on May 22 . These earthquakes formed a southward migrating foreshock sequence to the main Valdivia shock, which occurred just 15 minutes after the third event . </P>

Where was the largest earthquake ever recorded and how much destruction did it do