Today in Latin American History
A Landslide Kills 600 in Peru in 1971
March 19, 2013 | by HS News Staff
Today in Latin American history, in Peru a landslide crashed into Lake Yanahuani, killing 600 at the mining camp of Chungar in 1971.
An earthquake sets off a series of calamities—a landslide, flood and avalanche—that results in the destruction of the town of Chungar, Peru, and the death of many of its inhabitants.
The landslide caused a massive amount of dirt and water to plunge into a lake that sat above Chungar. The displaced water from the lake flooded down the hillside toward Chungar, triggering an avalanche of snow, mud and rock along the way.
Other events that occurred on this day:
- Today in LatAm history, Incan revolutionary Túpac Amaru II was born in 1742
- Today in LatAm history, Mexican chemist Mario J. Molina who won the Nobel Prize was born in 1943
- Today in LatAm history, Brazilian football player Marinho Peres who played for the National team & FC Barcelona was born in 1947
- Today in LatAm history, Puerto Rican baseball player Iván Calderón who played for the Chicago White Sox was born in 1962
- Today in LatAm history, Argentinian forces landed on South Georgia Island, precipitating the Falklands War with the UK in 1982
- Today in LatAm history, Brazilian entrepreneur Eduardo Saverin who is a co-founder of Facebook was born in 1982
