Tumaco

On the morning of January 31, 1906, at approximately 10:36 AM local time, a catastrophic undersea earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador and Colombia. The earthquake, estimated between magnitude 8.3 and 8.8, was one of the most powerful seismic events of the 20th century. As the ground shook violently for nearly ten minutes, the frightened inhabitants of Tumaco—a small coastal town on Colombia's Pacific coast—watched in horror as the sea suddenly retreated approximately one kilometer from the shore, an ominous sign of an approaching tsunami.

About this miracle

The terrified townspeople ran to their parish church and begged their pastor, Augustinian Recollect priest Fray Gerardo Larrondo de San José, to intercede for their protection. Father Larrondo, along with his assistant Fray Julián Moreno de San Nicolás de Tolentino, quickly retrieved a large consecrated Host from the tabernacle. According to tradition, Father Larrondo first consumed all the other consecrated hosts to prevent their desecration in the anticipated disaster, then placed the remaining "Magna Host" in a monstrance.

With remarkable courage, Father Larrondo led a procession of the entire community toward the beach, carrying the Blessed Sacrament aloft. As they approached the shore, they could see an enormous wall of water—what modern science calls a tsunami—advancing toward the town with terrifying speed. Eyewitnesses later described the wave as high enough to completely destroy Tumaco. Father Larrondo walked to the water's edge, raised the monstrance containing the Sacred Host high above his head, and traced a large sign of the cross over the threatening waters, crying out for divine mercy.

At that moment, according to numerous witnesses, the massive wave—which scientific studies confirm reached heights of up to 5 meters (16 feet) in the Tumaco area—suddenly stopped its advance. The wall of water appeared to hesitate, pause, and then recede back into the ocean. The sea quickly returned to its normal level, and the town of Tumaco was miraculously spared from destruction. The population, deeply moved and emotional, shouted repeatedly "¡Milagro! ¡Milagro!" (Miracle! Miracle!). In contrast, other coastal communities along the Ecuador-Colombia coast suffered devastating losses, with estimates of 500 to 1,500 deaths from the same tsunami.

The Eucharist was then solemnly enthroned in the church, and from that day forward, January 31st has been commemorated annually in Tumaco with processions, Eucharistic adoration, and acts of thanksgiving.