On May 22, 1960, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded, with a magnitude of 9.5, struck the city of Valdivia in southern Chile. The quake and the resulting tsunami caused widespread devastation, killing an estimated 1,655 people and leaving millions homeless. The tsunami crossed the Pacific Ocean, causing damage as far away as Japan and Hawaii. This event was a defining moment in the history of seismology and had a profound impact on Chilean society and its relationship with the environment.

The 1960 Valdivia earthquake is a central event in Chilean literature and has been the subject of many poems, essays, and novels. Poets like Pablo Neruda and Nicanor Parra wrote about the disaster, exploring themes of chaos, resilience, and the power of nature. The event is a key moment in the Latin American literary tradition, often used to reflect on the region's history of political upheaval and natural disaster, and it continues to inspire contemporary writers.