On May 9, 1877 CE, a powerful earthquake, estimated at magnitude 8.5, struck the Iquique region of Peru (now Chile). The quake triggered a tsunami that caused extensive damage along the coast. This was one of the most significant earthquakes in the region in the 19th century.

The 1877 Iquique earthquake is recorded in historical accounts and is part of the seismic history of South America. The event contributed to the growing body of knowledge about the region's seismicity and is mentioned in the literature of exploration and natural history. The earthquake is a part of the background for the literature of the Atacama Desert region, where the power of nature is a frequent theme.