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List of tsunamis

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of tsunamis

This article lists notable tsunamis, which are sorted by the date and location that they occurred. Because of seismic and volcanic activity associated with tectonic plate boundaries along the Pacific Ring of Fire, tsunamis occur most frequently in the Pacific Ocean, but are a worldwide natural phenomenon. They are possible wherever large bodies of water are found, including inland lakes, where they can be caused by landslides and glacier calving. Very small tsunamis, non-destructive and undetectable without specialized equipment, occur frequently as a result of minor earthquakes and other events. Around 1600 BC, the eruption of Thira devastated Aegean sites including Akrotiri (prehistoric city). Some Minoan sites in eastern Crete may have been damaged by ensuing tsunamis. The oldest recorded tsunami occurred in 479 BC. It destroyed a Persian army that was attacking the town of Potidaea in Greece. As early as 426 BC, the Greek historian Thucydides inquired in his book History of the Peloponnesian War (3 –6) about the causes of tsunamis. He argued that such events could only be explained as a consequence of ocean earthquakes, and could see no other possible causes.

Tables

· Prehistoric
≈3,260 Ma
≈3,260 Ma
Year
≈3,260 Ma
Location
South Africa
Main Article
S2 impact
Primary Cause
Impact event
Description
An astronomical object between 37 and 58 kilometres (23 and 36 mi) wide traveling at 20 kilometres per second (12 mi/s) struck the Earth east of what is now Johannesburg, South Africa, near South Africa's border with Eswatini, in what was then an Archean ocean that covered most of the planet, creating a crater about 500 kilometres (300 mi) wide. Th
≈66 Ma
≈66 Ma
Year
≈66 Ma
Location
Yucatán Peninsula
Main Article
Chicxulub event
Primary Cause
Impact event
Description
An asteroid 10 kilometres (6 mi) in diameter struck the Earth, generating a megatsunami with an initial wave height of 1,500 metres (5,000 ft) which struck coastlines in the Gulf of Mexico with waves 100 metres (330 ft) tall and reached heights of up to 14 metres (46 ft) in the North Atlantic and South Pacific. The impact also triggered giant lands
≈5 Ma
≈5 Ma
Year
≈5 Ma
Location
Algeciras, Spain
Main Article
Zanclean Flood
Primary Cause
Reservoir-induced seismicity
Description
At the end of or shortly after the Zanclean Flood, which rapidly filled the Mediterranean Basin with water from the Atlantic Ocean, a megatsunami with a height of nearly 100 metres (330 ft) struck the coast of Spain near what is now Algeciras.
≈1 Ma
≈1 Ma
Year
≈1 Ma
Location
Molokai, Hawaii
Main Article
East Molokai Volcano
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
One-third of the East Molokai volcano collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, generating a tsunami with an estimated local height of 600 metres (2,000 ft). The wave traveled as far as California and Mexico.
≈220,000–170,000 BC
≈220,000–170,000 BC
Year
≈220,000–170,000 BC
Location
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Main Article
Mount Teide
Primary Cause
Eruption and landslide
Description
A destructive series of eruptions caused a large collapse of part of the northern flank of the island and the central pre-Teide volcanic structure (known as the Cañadas edifice), causing a megatsunami in two phases, leaving deposits 132 metres (433 ft) high on the north-west of the island.
≈103,000 BC
≈103,000 BC
Year
≈103,000 BC
Location
Hawaii
Primary Cause
Submarine landslide
Description
A tsunami at least 400 metres (1,300 ft) in height deposited marine sediments at a modern-day elevation of 326 metres (1,070 ft) – 375 to 425 metres (1,230 to 1,394 ft) above sea level at the time the wave struck – on Lanai. The tsunami also deposited such sediments at an elevation of 60 to 80 metres (200 to 260 ft) on Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the
≈71,000 BC
≈71,000 BC
Year
≈71,000 BC
Location
Cape Verde Islands
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
The eastern flank of the island of Fogo collapsed into the sea, generating a megatsunami. The wave struck Santiago, 55 kilometres (34 mi; 30 nmi) away, where it was at least 170 metres (560 ft) tall and a had a run-up height of 270 metres (890 ft). The wave deposited giant boulders on Santiago at elevations of up to 220 metres (720 ft) and as far a
≈7,910–7,290 BC
≈7,910–7,290 BC
Year
≈7,910–7,290 BC
Location
Dor, Israel
Primary Cause
Unknown
Description
A megatsunami had a run-up of at least 16 metres (52 ft) and traveled between 1 and 3 km (0 and 2 mi) inland from the ancient Eastern Mediterranean coast.
≈7000–6000 BC
≈7000–6000 BC
Year
≈7000–6000 BC
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Primary Cause
Unknown
Description
A series of giant rocks and cobblestones have been found 14 metres (46 ft) above mean sea level near Guincho Beach.
≈6370 BC
≈6370 BC
Year
≈6370 BC
Location
Eastern Mediterranean
Primary Cause
Unknown
Description
A 25-cubic-kilometre (6 cu mi) landslide on the eastern slope of Mount Etna in Sicily reached the Mediterranean Sea and triggered a megatsunami in the Eastern Mediterranean with an initial wave height of 40 metres (130 ft) along the eastern coast of Sicily, where it felled millions of trees. Models indicate it had heights of 30 metres (100 ft) near
≈6225–6170 BC
≈6225–6170 BC
Year
≈6225–6170 BC
Location
Norwegian Sea
Main Article
Storegga Slide
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
The Storegga Slides, 100 kilometres (60 mi) northwest of the coast of Møre in the Norwegian Sea, triggered a large tsunami in the North Atlantic Ocean. The collapse involved around 290 kilometres (180 mi) of coastal shelf, and a total volume of 3,500 km3 (840 cu mi) of debris. Based on carbon dating of plant material in the sediment deposited by th
≈5650 BC
≈5650 BC
Year
≈5650 BC
Location
Alluttoq Island, Greenland
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
A large landslide into Sullorsuaq Strait (known in Danish as Vaigat Strait) generated a megatsunami which had a run-up height of 41 to 66 metres (130 to 220 ft).
≈5350 BC
≈5350 BC
Year
≈5350 BC
Location
Alluttoq Island, Greenland
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
A large landslide into Sullorsuaq Strait (known in Danish as Vaigat Strait) generated a megatsunami which had a run-up height of 45 to 70 metres (148 to 230 ft).
5,500 BP
5,500 BP
Year
5,500 BP
Location
Northern Isles, Scotland
Main Article
Garth tsunami
Primary Cause
Unknown
Description
The tsunami may have been responsible for contemporary mass burials.
≈1800 BC
≈1800 BC
Year
≈1800 BC
Location
Chile
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
A magnitude 9 earthquake generated tsunamis 15 to 20 metres (50 to 70 ft) in height that struck 1,000 kilometres (621 mi) of the coastline of the Atacama Desert. People fled the area and did not begin to return until around 800 BC; some pre-tsunami settlements were not reoccupied until between 1000 and 1500 AD.
≈1600 BC
≈1600 BC
Year
≈1600 BC
Location
Santorini, Greece
Main Article
Minoan eruption
Primary Cause
Volcanic eruption
Description
The volcanic eruption in Santorini, Greece triggered tsunamis which caused damage to some Minoan sites in eastern Crete.
1171 BC
1171 BC
Year
1171 BC
Location
Baltic Sea
Primary Cause
Unknown
Description
A tsunami with wave heights of at least 10 metres (30 ft) had run-up heights in Sweden of up to 14 to 16 metres (48 to 54 ft).
≈1100 BC
≈1100 BC
Year
≈1100 BC
Location
Lake Crescent, Washington, United States
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
An earthquake generated the 7,200,000-cubic-metre (9,400,000 cu yd) Sledgehammer Point Rockslide, which fell from Mount Storm King and entered waters at least 140 metres (460 ft) deep, generating a megatsunami with an estimated maximum run-up height of 82 to 104 metres (270 to 340 ft).
Year
Location
Main Article
Primary Cause
Description
≈3,260 Ma
South Africa
S2 impact
Impact event
An astronomical object between 37 and 58 kilometres (23 and 36 mi) wide traveling at 20 kilometres per second (12 mi/s) struck the Earth east of what is now Johannesburg, South Africa, near South Africa's border with Eswatini, in what was then an Archean ocean that covered most of the planet, creating a crater about 500 kilometres (300 mi) wide. Th
≈66 Ma
Yucatán Peninsula
Chicxulub event
Impact event
An asteroid 10 kilometres (6 mi) in diameter struck the Earth, generating a megatsunami with an initial wave height of 1,500 metres (5,000 ft) which struck coastlines in the Gulf of Mexico with waves 100 metres (330 ft) tall and reached heights of up to 14 metres (46 ft) in the North Atlantic and South Pacific. The impact also triggered giant lands
≈5 Ma
Algeciras, Spain
Zanclean Flood
Reservoir-induced seismicity
At the end of or shortly after the Zanclean Flood, which rapidly filled the Mediterranean Basin with water from the Atlantic Ocean, a megatsunami with a height of nearly 100 metres (330 ft) struck the coast of Spain near what is now Algeciras.
≈1 Ma
Molokai, Hawaii
East Molokai Volcano
Landslide
One-third of the East Molokai volcano collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, generating a tsunami with an estimated local height of 600 metres (2,000 ft). The wave traveled as far as California and Mexico.
≈220,000–170,000 BC
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Mount Teide
Eruption and landslide
A destructive series of eruptions caused a large collapse of part of the northern flank of the island and the central pre-Teide volcanic structure (known as the Cañadas edifice), causing a megatsunami in two phases, leaving deposits 132 metres (433 ft) high on the north-west of the island.
≈103,000 BC
Hawaii
Submarine landslide
A tsunami at least 400 metres (1,300 ft) in height deposited marine sediments at a modern-day elevation of 326 metres (1,070 ft) – 375 to 425 metres (1,230 to 1,394 ft) above sea level at the time the wave struck – on Lanai. The tsunami also deposited such sediments at an elevation of 60 to 80 metres (200 to 260 ft) on Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the
≈71,000 BC
Cape Verde Islands
Landslide
The eastern flank of the island of Fogo collapsed into the sea, generating a megatsunami. The wave struck Santiago, 55 kilometres (34 mi; 30 nmi) away, where it was at least 170 metres (560 ft) tall and a had a run-up height of 270 metres (890 ft). The wave deposited giant boulders on Santiago at elevations of up to 220 metres (720 ft) and as far a
≈7,910–7,290 BC
Dor, Israel
Unknown
A megatsunami had a run-up of at least 16 metres (52 ft) and traveled between 1 and 3 km (0 and 2 mi) inland from the ancient Eastern Mediterranean coast.
≈7000–6000 BC
Lisbon, Portugal
Unknown
A series of giant rocks and cobblestones have been found 14 metres (46 ft) above mean sea level near Guincho Beach.
≈6370 BC
Eastern Mediterranean
Unknown
A 25-cubic-kilometre (6 cu mi) landslide on the eastern slope of Mount Etna in Sicily reached the Mediterranean Sea and triggered a megatsunami in the Eastern Mediterranean with an initial wave height of 40 metres (130 ft) along the eastern coast of Sicily, where it felled millions of trees. Models indicate it had heights of 30 metres (100 ft) near
≈6225–6170 BC
Norwegian Sea
Storegga Slide
Landslide
The Storegga Slides, 100 kilometres (60 mi) northwest of the coast of Møre in the Norwegian Sea, triggered a large tsunami in the North Atlantic Ocean. The collapse involved around 290 kilometres (180 mi) of coastal shelf, and a total volume of 3,500 km3 (840 cu mi) of debris. Based on carbon dating of plant material in the sediment deposited by th
≈5650 BC
Alluttoq Island, Greenland
Landslide
A large landslide into Sullorsuaq Strait (known in Danish as Vaigat Strait) generated a megatsunami which had a run-up height of 41 to 66 metres (130 to 220 ft).
≈5350 BC
Alluttoq Island, Greenland
Landslide
A large landslide into Sullorsuaq Strait (known in Danish as Vaigat Strait) generated a megatsunami which had a run-up height of 45 to 70 metres (148 to 230 ft).
5,500 BP
Northern Isles, Scotland
Garth tsunami
Unknown
The tsunami may have been responsible for contemporary mass burials.
≈1800 BC
Chile
Earthquake
A magnitude 9 earthquake generated tsunamis 15 to 20 metres (50 to 70 ft) in height that struck 1,000 kilometres (621 mi) of the coastline of the Atacama Desert. People fled the area and did not begin to return until around 800 BC; some pre-tsunami settlements were not reoccupied until between 1000 and 1500 AD.
≈1600 BC
Santorini, Greece
Minoan eruption
Volcanic eruption
The volcanic eruption in Santorini, Greece triggered tsunamis which caused damage to some Minoan sites in eastern Crete.
1171 BC
Baltic Sea
Unknown
A tsunami with wave heights of at least 10 metres (30 ft) had run-up heights in Sweden of up to 14 to 16 metres (48 to 54 ft).
≈1100 BC
Lake Crescent, Washington, United States
Landslide
An earthquake generated the 7,200,000-cubic-metre (9,400,000 cu yd) Sledgehammer Point Rockslide, which fell from Mount Storm King and entered waters at least 140 metres (460 ft) deep, generating a megatsunami with an estimated maximum run-up height of 82 to 104 metres (270 to 340 ft).
· Before 1000 AD
479 BC
479 BC
Year
479 BC
Location
Potidaea, Greece
Main Article
479 BC Potidaea earthquake
Description
The oldest recorded tsunami in history. During the Persian siege of the maritime city of Potidaea, Greece, Herodotus reports how Persian attackers attempting to take advantage of an unusual retreat of the water were suddenly surprised by "a great tide, higher, as the locals say, than any one of many that had been before". Herodotus attributes the c
426 BC
426 BC
Year
426 BC
Location
Malian Gulf, Greece
Main Article
426 BC Malian Gulf tsunami
Description
In the summer of 426 BC, a tsunami struck the gulf between the northwestern tip of Euboea and Lamia. The Greek historian Thucydides (3 –6) described how the tsunami and a series of earthquakes affected the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) and, for the first time, associated earthquakes with waves in terms of cause and effect.
373 BC
373 BC
Year
373 BC
Location
Helike, Greece
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
An earthquake and a tsunami destroyed the prosperous Greek city of Helike, 2 km (1 mi) from the sea. The fate of the city, which remained permanently submerged, was often commented on by ancient writers and may have inspired contemporary Plato to create the myth of Atlantis.
60 BC
60 BC
Year
60 BC
Location
Portugal and Galicia
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
An earthquake of intensity IX and an estimated magnitude of 6 caused a tsunami on the coasts of Portugal and Galicia. Little else is known due to the paucity of records of Roman possession of the Iberian Peninsula.
79 AD
79 AD
Year
79 AD
Location
Gulf of Naples, Italy
Main Article
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
Primary Cause
Volcanic eruption
Description
Pliny the Younger witnessed a smaller tsunami in the Bay of Naples during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on 24 October 79 AD.
115 AD
115 AD
Year
115 AD
Location
Caesarea, Israel
Main Article
115 Antioch earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
Underwater geoarchaeological excavations on the shallow shelf – around 10 metres (30 ft) depth – at Caesarea, Israel, documented a tsunami hitting the ancient port. Talmudic sources record a tsunami on 13 December 115 AD that affected Caesarea and Yavneh. The tsunami was likely triggered by an earthquake that destroyed Antioch, and was generated so
262 AD
262 AD
Year
262 AD
Location
Southwest Anatolia (Turkey)
Main Article
262 Southwest Anatolia earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
Many cities were inundated by the sea, with cities in Roman Asia reporting the worst tsunami damage. In many places fissures appeared in the earth and filled with water; in others, towns were inundated by the sea.
365 AD
365 AD
Year
365 AD
Location
Alexandria, Southern and Eastern Mediterranean
Main Article
365 Crete earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On the morning of 21 July 365 AD, an earthquake triggered a tsunami more than 30 metres (100 ft) high, devastating Alexandria and the eastern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, killing thousands, and throwing ships nearly 2 miles (3 km) inland. This tsunami also devastated many large cities in what is now Libya and Tunisia. The anniversary o
551 AD
551 AD
Year
551 AD
Location
Lebanese coast
Main Article
551 Beirut earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
The earthquake of 9 July 551 AD was one of the largest seismic events in and around Lebanon during the Byzantine period. The earthquake was associated with a tsunami along the Lebanese coast and a local landslide near Al-Batron. A large fire in Beirut also continued for almost two months.
563 AD
563 AD
Year
563 AD
Location
Lake Geneva, Switzerland and France
Main Article
Tauredunum event
Primary Cause
Underwater mudslide
Description
Probably generated by a landslide that triggered a collapse of sediments at the mouth of the River Rhône, the tsunami traveled the length of Lake Geneva, reaching a height of 16 metres (52 ft) in some places. The wave probably killed hundreds, or even thousands, of people.
684 AD
684 AD
Year
684 AD
Location
Nankai, Japan
Main Article
684 Hakuhō earthquake, Nankai earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
The first recorded tsunami in Japan struck on 29 November 684 AD off the coast of the Kii, Shikoku, and Awaji region. The earthquake, estimated at a magnitude of 8 , was followed by a large tsunami, but there are no estimates of the number of deaths. From then on, the Japanese would keep meticulous records of tsunamis.
701 AD
701 AD
Year
701 AD
Location
Tanba, Japan
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 12 May 701 AD, an earthquake and a tsunami measuring up to 40 metres (100 ft) hit the coast of Tanba Province (Kyoto Prefecture).
869 AD
869 AD
Year
869 AD
Location
Sanriku, Japan
Main Article
869 Jōgan earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
The Sanriku region was hit by a large tsunami on 13 July 869 AD, causing floods to spread 4 km (2 mi) inland from the coast. Tagajō was destroyed, with an estimated 1,000 casualties.
887 AD
887 AD
Year
887 AD
Location
Nankai, Japan
Main Article
887 Ninna Nankai earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 26 August 887 AD, there was a strong commotion in the Kyoto region, causing great destruction. A tsunami inundated the coastal region and some people died. The coast of Settsu Province (Osaka Prefecture) suffered especially, and the tsunami was also observed on the coast of the Sea of Hyūga (Miyazaki Prefecture).
Year
Location
Main Article
Primary Cause
Description
479 BC
Potidaea, Greece
479 BC Potidaea earthquake
The oldest recorded tsunami in history. During the Persian siege of the maritime city of Potidaea, Greece, Herodotus reports how Persian attackers attempting to take advantage of an unusual retreat of the water were suddenly surprised by "a great tide, higher, as the locals say, than any one of many that had been before". Herodotus attributes the c
426 BC
Malian Gulf, Greece
426 BC Malian Gulf tsunami
In the summer of 426 BC, a tsunami struck the gulf between the northwestern tip of Euboea and Lamia. The Greek historian Thucydides (3 –6) described how the tsunami and a series of earthquakes affected the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) and, for the first time, associated earthquakes with waves in terms of cause and effect.
373 BC
Helike, Greece
Earthquake
An earthquake and a tsunami destroyed the prosperous Greek city of Helike, 2 km (1 mi) from the sea. The fate of the city, which remained permanently submerged, was often commented on by ancient writers and may have inspired contemporary Plato to create the myth of Atlantis.
60 BC
Portugal and Galicia
Earthquake
An earthquake of intensity IX and an estimated magnitude of 6 caused a tsunami on the coasts of Portugal and Galicia. Little else is known due to the paucity of records of Roman possession of the Iberian Peninsula.
79 AD
Gulf of Naples, Italy
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
Volcanic eruption
Pliny the Younger witnessed a smaller tsunami in the Bay of Naples during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on 24 October 79 AD.
115 AD
Caesarea, Israel
115 Antioch earthquake
Earthquake
Underwater geoarchaeological excavations on the shallow shelf – around 10 metres (30 ft) depth – at Caesarea, Israel, documented a tsunami hitting the ancient port. Talmudic sources record a tsunami on 13 December 115 AD that affected Caesarea and Yavneh. The tsunami was likely triggered by an earthquake that destroyed Antioch, and was generated so
262 AD
Southwest Anatolia (Turkey)
262 Southwest Anatolia earthquake
Earthquake
Many cities were inundated by the sea, with cities in Roman Asia reporting the worst tsunami damage. In many places fissures appeared in the earth and filled with water; in others, towns were inundated by the sea.
365 AD
Alexandria, Southern and Eastern Mediterranean
365 Crete earthquake
Earthquake
On the morning of 21 July 365 AD, an earthquake triggered a tsunami more than 30 metres (100 ft) high, devastating Alexandria and the eastern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, killing thousands, and throwing ships nearly 2 miles (3 km) inland. This tsunami also devastated many large cities in what is now Libya and Tunisia. The anniversary o
551 AD
Lebanese coast
551 Beirut earthquake
Earthquake
The earthquake of 9 July 551 AD was one of the largest seismic events in and around Lebanon during the Byzantine period. The earthquake was associated with a tsunami along the Lebanese coast and a local landslide near Al-Batron. A large fire in Beirut also continued for almost two months.
563 AD
Lake Geneva, Switzerland and France
Tauredunum event
Underwater mudslide
Probably generated by a landslide that triggered a collapse of sediments at the mouth of the River Rhône, the tsunami traveled the length of Lake Geneva, reaching a height of 16 metres (52 ft) in some places. The wave probably killed hundreds, or even thousands, of people.
684 AD
Nankai, Japan
684 Hakuhō earthquake, Nankai earthquake
Earthquake
The first recorded tsunami in Japan struck on 29 November 684 AD off the coast of the Kii, Shikoku, and Awaji region. The earthquake, estimated at a magnitude of 8 , was followed by a large tsunami, but there are no estimates of the number of deaths. From then on, the Japanese would keep meticulous records of tsunamis.
701 AD
Tanba, Japan
Earthquake
On 12 May 701 AD, an earthquake and a tsunami measuring up to 40 metres (100 ft) hit the coast of Tanba Province (Kyoto Prefecture).
869 AD
Sanriku, Japan
869 Jōgan earthquake
Earthquake
The Sanriku region was hit by a large tsunami on 13 July 869 AD, causing floods to spread 4 km (2 mi) inland from the coast. Tagajō was destroyed, with an estimated 1,000 casualties.
887 AD
Nankai, Japan
887 Ninna Nankai earthquake
Earthquake
On 26 August 887 AD, there was a strong commotion in the Kyoto region, causing great destruction. A tsunami inundated the coastal region and some people died. The coast of Settsu Province (Osaka Prefecture) suffered especially, and the tsunami was also observed on the coast of the Sea of Hyūga (Miyazaki Prefecture).
· 1000–1700 AD
1026
1026
Year
1026
Location
Iwami, Japan
Main Article
1026 Manju tsunami
Primary Cause
Earthquake or landslide
Description
On 16 June 1026, a 10 m (30 ft) tsunami struck the Sea of Japan coast of then Iwami Province, killing more than 1,000 people.
1033
1033
Year
1033
Location
Jordan Valley, Levant
Main Article
1033 Jordan Valley earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 5 December 1033, a large earthquake struck along the Dead Sea Transform, causing extreme devastation. At least 70,000 killed. Several killed by a moderate tsunami.
1169
1169
Year
1169
Location
Sicily, Italy
Main Article
1169 Sicily earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 4 February 1169, a tsunami affected most of the Ionian coast of Sicily.
1202
1202
Year
1202
Location
Eastern Mediterranean
Main Article
1202 Syria earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 20 May 1202, a tsunami probably associated with this event was observed in eastern Cyprus and along the Syrian and Lebanese coasts.
1293
1293
Year
1293
Location
Kamakura, Japan
Main Article
1293 Kamakura earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 27 May 1293, a magnitude 7 earthquake and tsunami hit Kamakura, then the de facto capital of Japan, killing 23,000 in the resulting fires.
1303
1303
Year
1303
Location
Eastern Mediterranean
Main Article
1303 Crete earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
A team from Southern Cross University in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia, has found evidence of five tsunamis hitting Greece in the last 2000 years. "Most were small and local, but on August 8, 1303 a larger one hit Crete, Rhodes, Alexandria and Acre in Israel."
1343
1343
Year
1343
Location
Gulf of Naples, Italy
Main Article
1343 Naples tsunami
Primary Cause
Landslide (possibly volcanic)
Description
A 2019 study attributes the event to a massive submarine landslide caused by the collapse of the flank of the Stromboli volcano on 25 November 1343.
1361
1361
Year
1361
Location
Nankai, Japan
Main Article
1361 Shōhei earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 3 August 1361, during the Shōhei era, an 8 earthquake struck Nankaidō, followed by a tsunami. A total of 660 deaths were reported. The earthquake struck Awa, Settsu, Kii, Yamato and Awaji Provinces provinces (Tokushima, Osaka, Wakayama and Nara Prefectures and Awaji Island). A tsunami hit Awa and Tosa Provinces (Tokushima and Kōchi Prefectures
1420
1420
Year
1420
Location
Caldera, Chile
Main Article
1420 Caldera earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 31 August 1420, a huge earthquake shook what is now the Atacama Region of Chile. Landslides occurred along the coast and tsunamis affected not only Chile but also Hawaii and Japan.
1454
1454
Year
1454
Location
Mutsu Province, Japan
Main Article
1454 Kyōtoku earthquake and tsunami
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 23 November 1454, during the Kyōtoku era, an earthquake, possibly 8 or higher, shook the Kantō and Tōhoku regions at midnight, generating a tsunami that inundated 1–2 km (0 –1 mi) of land, sweeping people away in Mutsu Province.
1498
1498
Year
1498
Location
Nankai, Japan
Main Article
1498 Meiō earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 20 September 1498, during the Meiō era, a 7 earthquake occurred. The ports of Kii Province (Wakayama Prefecture) were damaged by a tsunami of several metres in height. Between 30,000 and 40,000 deaths were estimated. The building around the great Buddha of Kamakura (at an altitude of 7 m or 23 ft) was swept away by the tsunami.
1531
1531
Year
1531
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Main Article
1531 Lisbon earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
The earthquake of 26 January 1531 was accompanied by a tsunami in the Tagus River that destroyed ships in the port of Lisbon.
1541
1541
Year
1541
Location
Nueva Cadiz, Venezuela
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
In 1528, Cristóbal Guerra founded Nueva Cádiz on the island of Cubagua, the first Spanish settlement in Venezuela. Nueva Cádiz, with a population of 1,000 to 1,500, may have been destroyed by an earthquake followed by tsunami on 25 December 1541; it could also have been a major hurricane. The ruins were declared a National Monument of Venezuela in
1585
1585
Year
1585
Location
Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Main Article
1585 Aleutian Islands earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 11 June 1585, a moderate tsunami struck the Japanese coast of Sanriku. At the same time, several native Hawaiians died after their settlements were hit by a tsunami-like event described in oral traditions. Evidence of a paleotsunami was also found in the Hawaiian Islands corresponding to a large tsunami in the 16th century. Modelling of a magnit
1586
1586
Year
1586
Location
Honshu, Japan
Main Article
1586 Tenshō earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck central Honshu on 18 January 1586. The earthquake triggered tsunami waves in Lake Biwa, Wakasa Bay and Ise Bay, destroying villages and drowning residents. Waves of up to 5 metres (16 ft) were estimated. The events killed 8,000 people.
1605
1605
Year
1605
Location
Nankai, Japan
Main Article
1605 Keichō earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 3 February 1605, in the Keichō era, an 8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. A tsunami with a known maximum height of 30 m (98 ft) was observed from the Bōsō Peninsula to the eastern part of Kyushu Island. The eastern part of the Bōsō Peninsula, Edo Bay (Tokyo Bay), Sagami and Tōtōmi Provinces (Kanagawa and Shizuoka Prefectures), an
1608
1608
Year
1608
Location
Sendai Plains, Japan
Description
On 23 November 1608, a major earthquake hit Sendai beach, generating a tsunami that swept away and killed over 50 people.
1611
1611
Year
1611
Location
Sanriku, Japan
Main Article
1611 Sanriku earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
An 8 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean off the Sanriku Coast on 2 December 1611 generated a tsunami that reached its maximum estimated height of about 20 metres (70 ft) at Ōfunato, Japan. About 5,000 people were killed.
1674
1674
Year
1674
Location
Banda Sea, Indonesia
Main Article
1674 Ambon earthquake and megatsunami
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 17 February 1674, an earthquake triggered a landslide that generated waves of up to 100 metres (330 ft) along the coast of Ambon Island, killing more than 2,000.
1677
1677
Year
1677
Location
Bōsō Peninsula, Japan
Main Article
1677 Bōsō earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 4 November 1677, a low-intensity earthquake was felt in the area around the Bōsō Peninsula, but was followed by a large tsunami, which killed an estimated 569 people.
1693
1693
Year
1693
Location
Sicily
Main Article
1693 Sicily earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
A major earthquake on 9 January 1693 was followed on 11 January 1693 by the most powerful earthquake in Italian history. The ensuing tsunami devastated the Ionian Sea coast and the Strait of Messina. The wave struck about 230 kilometres (140 mi) of the coast of Sicily, reaching a height of between 2 and 26 metres (8 and 85 ft) at Augusta and pene
Year
Location
Main Article
Primary Cause
Description
1026
Iwami, Japan
1026 Manju tsunami
Earthquake or landslide
On 16 June 1026, a 10 m (30 ft) tsunami struck the Sea of Japan coast of then Iwami Province, killing more than 1,000 people.
1033
Jordan Valley, Levant
1033 Jordan Valley earthquake
Earthquake
On 5 December 1033, a large earthquake struck along the Dead Sea Transform, causing extreme devastation. At least 70,000 killed. Several killed by a moderate tsunami.
1169
Sicily, Italy
1169 Sicily earthquake
Earthquake
On 4 February 1169, a tsunami affected most of the Ionian coast of Sicily.
1202
Eastern Mediterranean
1202 Syria earthquake
Earthquake
On 20 May 1202, a tsunami probably associated with this event was observed in eastern Cyprus and along the Syrian and Lebanese coasts.
1293
Kamakura, Japan
1293 Kamakura earthquake
Earthquake
On 27 May 1293, a magnitude 7 earthquake and tsunami hit Kamakura, then the de facto capital of Japan, killing 23,000 in the resulting fires.
1303
Eastern Mediterranean
1303 Crete earthquake
Earthquake
A team from Southern Cross University in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia, has found evidence of five tsunamis hitting Greece in the last 2000 years. "Most were small and local, but on August 8, 1303 a larger one hit Crete, Rhodes, Alexandria and Acre in Israel."
1343
Gulf of Naples, Italy
1343 Naples tsunami
Landslide (possibly volcanic)
A 2019 study attributes the event to a massive submarine landslide caused by the collapse of the flank of the Stromboli volcano on 25 November 1343.
1361
Nankai, Japan
1361 Shōhei earthquake
Earthquake
On 3 August 1361, during the Shōhei era, an 8 earthquake struck Nankaidō, followed by a tsunami. A total of 660 deaths were reported. The earthquake struck Awa, Settsu, Kii, Yamato and Awaji Provinces provinces (Tokushima, Osaka, Wakayama and Nara Prefectures and Awaji Island). A tsunami hit Awa and Tosa Provinces (Tokushima and Kōchi Prefectures
1420
Caldera, Chile
1420 Caldera earthquake
Earthquake
On 31 August 1420, a huge earthquake shook what is now the Atacama Region of Chile. Landslides occurred along the coast and tsunamis affected not only Chile but also Hawaii and Japan.
1454
Mutsu Province, Japan
1454 Kyōtoku earthquake and tsunami
Earthquake
On 23 November 1454, during the Kyōtoku era, an earthquake, possibly 8 or higher, shook the Kantō and Tōhoku regions at midnight, generating a tsunami that inundated 1–2 km (0 –1 mi) of land, sweeping people away in Mutsu Province.
1498
Nankai, Japan
1498 Meiō earthquake
Earthquake
On 20 September 1498, during the Meiō era, a 7 earthquake occurred. The ports of Kii Province (Wakayama Prefecture) were damaged by a tsunami of several metres in height. Between 30,000 and 40,000 deaths were estimated. The building around the great Buddha of Kamakura (at an altitude of 7 m or 23 ft) was swept away by the tsunami.
1531
Lisbon, Portugal
1531 Lisbon earthquake
Earthquake
The earthquake of 26 January 1531 was accompanied by a tsunami in the Tagus River that destroyed ships in the port of Lisbon.
1541
Nueva Cadiz, Venezuela
Earthquake
In 1528, Cristóbal Guerra founded Nueva Cádiz on the island of Cubagua, the first Spanish settlement in Venezuela. Nueva Cádiz, with a population of 1,000 to 1,500, may have been destroyed by an earthquake followed by tsunami on 25 December 1541; it could also have been a major hurricane. The ruins were declared a National Monument of Venezuela in
1585
Aleutian Islands, Alaska
1585 Aleutian Islands earthquake
Earthquake
On 11 June 1585, a moderate tsunami struck the Japanese coast of Sanriku. At the same time, several native Hawaiians died after their settlements were hit by a tsunami-like event described in oral traditions. Evidence of a paleotsunami was also found in the Hawaiian Islands corresponding to a large tsunami in the 16th century. Modelling of a magnit
1586
Honshu, Japan
1586 Tenshō earthquake
Earthquake
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck central Honshu on 18 January 1586. The earthquake triggered tsunami waves in Lake Biwa, Wakasa Bay and Ise Bay, destroying villages and drowning residents. Waves of up to 5 metres (16 ft) were estimated. The events killed 8,000 people.
1605
Nankai, Japan
1605 Keichō earthquake
Earthquake
On 3 February 1605, in the Keichō era, an 8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. A tsunami with a known maximum height of 30 m (98 ft) was observed from the Bōsō Peninsula to the eastern part of Kyushu Island. The eastern part of the Bōsō Peninsula, Edo Bay (Tokyo Bay), Sagami and Tōtōmi Provinces (Kanagawa and Shizuoka Prefectures), an
1608
Sendai Plains, Japan
On 23 November 1608, a major earthquake hit Sendai beach, generating a tsunami that swept away and killed over 50 people.
1611
Sanriku, Japan
1611 Sanriku earthquake
Earthquake
An 8 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean off the Sanriku Coast on 2 December 1611 generated a tsunami that reached its maximum estimated height of about 20 metres (70 ft) at Ōfunato, Japan. About 5,000 people were killed.
1674
Banda Sea, Indonesia
1674 Ambon earthquake and megatsunami
Earthquake
On 17 February 1674, an earthquake triggered a landslide that generated waves of up to 100 metres (330 ft) along the coast of Ambon Island, killing more than 2,000.
1677
Bōsō Peninsula, Japan
1677 Bōsō earthquake
Earthquake
On 4 November 1677, a low-intensity earthquake was felt in the area around the Bōsō Peninsula, but was followed by a large tsunami, which killed an estimated 569 people.
1693
Sicily
1693 Sicily earthquake
Earthquake
A major earthquake on 9 January 1693 was followed on 11 January 1693 by the most powerful earthquake in Italian history. The ensuing tsunami devastated the Ionian Sea coast and the Strait of Messina. The wave struck about 230 kilometres (140 mi) of the coast of Sicily, reaching a height of between 2 and 26 metres (8 and 85 ft) at Augusta and pene
· 1700s
1700
1700
Year
1700
Location
Pacific Northwest, U . and Canada
Main Article
1700 Cascadia earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 26 January 1700, the Cascadia earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 9 , ruptured the Cascadia subduction zone (C SZ) from Vancouver Island to California, and triggered a massive tsunami recorded in Japan and by the oral traditions of indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. The wave caught the Japanese off guard, not knowing its origin
1703
1703
Year
1703
Location
Kanto, Japan
Main Article
1703 Genroku earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 31 December 1703, an 8 magnitude earthquake struck Edo. A tsunami up to 11 metres (38 ft) high was recorded along the coast of the Kantō Region. Official reports put the death toll of the earthquake disaster at 5,233 people, but some estimates put it as high as 200,000.
1707
1707
Year
1707
Location
Nankai, Japan
Main Article
1707 Hōei earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 28 October 1707, during the Hōei era, an 8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami up to 10 metres (30 ft) high hit Tosa Province (Kōchi Prefecture). More than 29,000 houses were destroyed, causing around 30,000 deaths. In Tosa, 11,170 houses were razed to the ground, and 18,441 people drowned. Some 700 drowned and 603 houses were razed to the ground
1731
1731
Year
1731
Location
Storfjorden, Norway
Main Article
Storfjorden
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
On 8 January 1731, a landslide in the Storfjorden off Stranda caused a tsunami up to 100 metres (330 ft) high, killing 17 people.
1737
1737
Year
1737
Location
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Main Article
1737 Kamchatka earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 17 October 1737, a 9 MW earthquake in the Pacific Ocean off the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula generated a tsunami. The tsunami reached a height of 30 metres (100 ft) in Avacha Bay, and elsewhere on the peninsula's coast waves of 6 metres (21 ft) and 63 metres (207 ft) were reported and evidence of a run-up height of 70 me
1741
1741
Year
1741
Location
Western Oshima, Japan
Main Article
1741 eruption of Oshima–Ōshima and the Kampo tsunami
Primary Cause
Volcano
Description
On 29 August 1741, the western side of the Oshima Peninsula, Ezo (Hokkaido) was hit by a tsunami caused by an eruption of the volcano on the island of Ōshima. The tsunami itself is believed to have been the result from a landslide of a partly underwater landslide triggered by the eruption. 1,467 people died in Ezo.
1743
1743
Year
1743
Location
Apulia, Italy
Main Article
1743 Salento earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 20 February 1743, a magnitude 7 earthquake in the Strait of Otranto triggered a tsunami up to 11 metres (36 ft) high. Between 180 and 300 people died.
1755
1755
Year
1755
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Main Article
1755 Lisbon earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
Tens of thousands of Portuguese people who survived the Great Lisbon earthquake on 1 November 1755 were killed by a tsunami 40 minutes later. Many fled to the coast, an area safe from fires and debris during aftershocks. These people watched the sea recede, revealing a seabed littered with lost cargo and shipwrecks. The tsunami then struck with a m
1756
1756
Year
1756
Location
Langfjorden, Norway
Main Article
Langfjorden
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
On 22 February 1756, a landslide in Langfjorden generated three megatsunamis in Langfjorden and Eresfjorden with heights of 40 to 50 metres (130 to 160 ft). The waves killed 32 people and destroyed 168 buildings, 196 boats, large amounts of forest, roads and boat landings.
1761
1761
Year
1761
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Main Article
1761 Lisbon earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
More than five years after the 1755 earthquake, on 31 March 1761, another event with an estimated magnitude of 8 shook the Iberian Peninsula. It generated a tsunami up to 2 metres (7 ft) at Lisbon. In Cornwall, the tsunami reached more than 1 metre (3 ft) in height. The details of this earthquake are largely unknown, censored by the Portugues
1762
1762
Year
1762
Location
Rahkine, Burma
Main Article
1762 Arakan earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 2 April 1762, the west coast of Myanmar (Burma) and Chittagong was hit by an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8 , triggering a tsunami in the Bay of Bengal and killing more than 200 people.
1771
1771
Year
1771
Location
Yaeyama Islands, Ryūkyū
Main Article
1771 Great Yaeyama Tsunami
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
An underwater earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7 occurred near the Yaeyama Islands in the former Ryūkyū Kingdom (present day Okinawa, Japan) on 24 April 1771 at about 08:00. The earthquake is not believed to have directly caused any deaths, but the resulting tsunami killed an estimated 12,000 people. Advance estimates at Ishigaki Island
1781
1781
Year
1781
Location
Pingtung, Taiwan
Description
In April or May 1781, according to Taiwan County records, in Jiadong, Pingtung, a 3-metre (10 ft) wave hit the city. Fish and shrimp rampaged wildly on the shore and nearby fishing villages were wiped out. However, no earthquake was reported. A different source claims that a 30-metre (100 ft) wave also hit Tainan. One possibility is a misrecording
1783
1783
Year
1783
Location
Calabria, Italy
Main Article
1783 Calabrian earthquakes
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
The earthquake was the second of a sequence of five shocks that shook Calabria between 5 February and 28 March 1783. The citizens of Scilla spent the night after the first earthquake on the beach, where they were washed away by the tsunami, causing 1,500 deaths. The tsunami was caused by the collapse of Monte Paci into the sea, near the city. Estim
1792
1792
Year
1792
Location
Kyūshū, Japan
Main Article
1792 Unzen earthquake and tsunami
Primary Cause
Volcanic processes
Description
Tsunamis were the main cause of death in the worst volcanic disaster in Japanese history, an eruption of Mount Unzen, Hizen Province (Nagasaki Prefecture), Kyushu, Japan. Towards the end of 1791, a series of earthquakes on the western flank of Mount Unzen moved towards Fugen-dake, one of the peaks of Mount Unzen. In February 1792, Fugen-dake erupte
1793
1793
Year
1793
Location
Sanriku, Japan
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 7 January 1793, a major earthquake struck around 12:00 at the southern coast of Sanriku. It swept away 72 houses and killed 11 people in Otsuchi.
1797
1797
Year
1797
Location
Sumatra, Indonesia
Main Article
1797 Sumatra earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 10 February 1797, a massive earthquake estimated to be approximately 8 on the moment magnitude scale struck Sumatra in Indonesia. Many deaths occurred, although it is not known how many.
Year
Location
Main Article
Primary Cause
Description
1700
Pacific Northwest, U . and Canada
1700 Cascadia earthquake
Earthquake
On 26 January 1700, the Cascadia earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 9 , ruptured the Cascadia subduction zone (C SZ) from Vancouver Island to California, and triggered a massive tsunami recorded in Japan and by the oral traditions of indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. The wave caught the Japanese off guard, not knowing its origin
1703
Kanto, Japan
1703 Genroku earthquake
Earthquake
On 31 December 1703, an 8 magnitude earthquake struck Edo. A tsunami up to 11 metres (38 ft) high was recorded along the coast of the Kantō Region. Official reports put the death toll of the earthquake disaster at 5,233 people, but some estimates put it as high as 200,000.
1707
Nankai, Japan
1707 Hōei earthquake
Earthquake
On 28 October 1707, during the Hōei era, an 8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami up to 10 metres (30 ft) high hit Tosa Province (Kōchi Prefecture). More than 29,000 houses were destroyed, causing around 30,000 deaths. In Tosa, 11,170 houses were razed to the ground, and 18,441 people drowned. Some 700 drowned and 603 houses were razed to the ground
1731
Storfjorden, Norway
Storfjorden
Landslide
On 8 January 1731, a landslide in the Storfjorden off Stranda caused a tsunami up to 100 metres (330 ft) high, killing 17 people.
1737
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
1737 Kamchatka earthquake
Earthquake
On 17 October 1737, a 9 MW earthquake in the Pacific Ocean off the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula generated a tsunami. The tsunami reached a height of 30 metres (100 ft) in Avacha Bay, and elsewhere on the peninsula's coast waves of 6 metres (21 ft) and 63 metres (207 ft) were reported and evidence of a run-up height of 70 me
1741
Western Oshima, Japan
1741 eruption of Oshima–Ōshima and the Kampo tsunami
Volcano
On 29 August 1741, the western side of the Oshima Peninsula, Ezo (Hokkaido) was hit by a tsunami caused by an eruption of the volcano on the island of Ōshima. The tsunami itself is believed to have been the result from a landslide of a partly underwater landslide triggered by the eruption. 1,467 people died in Ezo.
1743
Apulia, Italy
1743 Salento earthquake
Earthquake
On 20 February 1743, a magnitude 7 earthquake in the Strait of Otranto triggered a tsunami up to 11 metres (36 ft) high. Between 180 and 300 people died.
1755
Lisbon, Portugal
1755 Lisbon earthquake
Earthquake
Tens of thousands of Portuguese people who survived the Great Lisbon earthquake on 1 November 1755 were killed by a tsunami 40 minutes later. Many fled to the coast, an area safe from fires and debris during aftershocks. These people watched the sea recede, revealing a seabed littered with lost cargo and shipwrecks. The tsunami then struck with a m
1756
Langfjorden, Norway
Langfjorden
Landslide
On 22 February 1756, a landslide in Langfjorden generated three megatsunamis in Langfjorden and Eresfjorden with heights of 40 to 50 metres (130 to 160 ft). The waves killed 32 people and destroyed 168 buildings, 196 boats, large amounts of forest, roads and boat landings.
1761
Lisbon, Portugal
1761 Lisbon earthquake
Earthquake
More than five years after the 1755 earthquake, on 31 March 1761, another event with an estimated magnitude of 8 shook the Iberian Peninsula. It generated a tsunami up to 2 metres (7 ft) at Lisbon. In Cornwall, the tsunami reached more than 1 metre (3 ft) in height. The details of this earthquake are largely unknown, censored by the Portugues
1762
Rahkine, Burma
1762 Arakan earthquake
Earthquake
On 2 April 1762, the west coast of Myanmar (Burma) and Chittagong was hit by an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8 , triggering a tsunami in the Bay of Bengal and killing more than 200 people.
1771
Yaeyama Islands, Ryūkyū
1771 Great Yaeyama Tsunami
Earthquake
An underwater earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7 occurred near the Yaeyama Islands in the former Ryūkyū Kingdom (present day Okinawa, Japan) on 24 April 1771 at about 08:00. The earthquake is not believed to have directly caused any deaths, but the resulting tsunami killed an estimated 12,000 people. Advance estimates at Ishigaki Island
1781
Pingtung, Taiwan
In April or May 1781, according to Taiwan County records, in Jiadong, Pingtung, a 3-metre (10 ft) wave hit the city. Fish and shrimp rampaged wildly on the shore and nearby fishing villages were wiped out. However, no earthquake was reported. A different source claims that a 30-metre (100 ft) wave also hit Tainan. One possibility is a misrecording
1783
Calabria, Italy
1783 Calabrian earthquakes
Earthquake
The earthquake was the second of a sequence of five shocks that shook Calabria between 5 February and 28 March 1783. The citizens of Scilla spent the night after the first earthquake on the beach, where they were washed away by the tsunami, causing 1,500 deaths. The tsunami was caused by the collapse of Monte Paci into the sea, near the city. Estim
1792
Kyūshū, Japan
1792 Unzen earthquake and tsunami
Volcanic processes
Tsunamis were the main cause of death in the worst volcanic disaster in Japanese history, an eruption of Mount Unzen, Hizen Province (Nagasaki Prefecture), Kyushu, Japan. Towards the end of 1791, a series of earthquakes on the western flank of Mount Unzen moved towards Fugen-dake, one of the peaks of Mount Unzen. In February 1792, Fugen-dake erupte
1793
Sanriku, Japan
Earthquake
On 7 January 1793, a major earthquake struck around 12:00 at the southern coast of Sanriku. It swept away 72 houses and killed 11 people in Otsuchi.
1797
Sumatra, Indonesia
1797 Sumatra earthquake
Earthquake
On 10 February 1797, a massive earthquake estimated to be approximately 8 on the moment magnitude scale struck Sumatra in Indonesia. Many deaths occurred, although it is not known how many.
· 1800s
1806
1806
Year
1806
Location
Goldau, Switzerland
Main Article
1806 Goldau landslide
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
On 2 September 1806, a landslide of 120,000,000 tons of rock, much of which displaced water from Lake Lauerz and caused a tsunami that inundated lakeside villages, killing 457 people.
1812
1812
Year
1812
Location
Santa Barbara Channel, Alta California
Main Article
1812 Ventura earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake or landslide
Description
On 21 December 1812, a magnitude 7 to 7 earthquake triggered a 3 (11 ft) tsunami (eyewitness reported more than 15 metres [50 ft]) in the Lompoc area, leveling homes and missions in the area. It left a ship inland before taking it back out to sea. Its origin may be due to faults or landslides.
1815
1815
Year
1815
Location
Tambora, Indonesia
Main Article
1815 eruption of Mount Tambora
Primary Cause
Volcanic eruption
Description
On 10 April 1815, an eruption of VEI 7 caused a localized tsunami. Tsunami of 4 metres (13 ft) in Sanggar, 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) in Besuki, Java Island and 2 m in the Molucca Islands.
1819
1819
Year
1819
Location
Gujarat, India
Main Article
1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 16 June 1819, a local tsunami inundated the Great Rann of Kutch
1833
1833
Year
1833
Location
Sumatra, Dutch East-Indies
Main Article
1833 Sumatra earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 25 November 1833, an earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude between 8 and 9 struck Sumatra in the Dutch East-Indies. The coast of Sumatra, near the epicenter of the earthquake, was the most affected by the resulting tsunami.
1837
1837
Year
1837
Location
Valdivia, Chile
Main Article
1837 Valdivia earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 7 November 1837, an earthquake hit south-central Chile, also striking Hawaii, French Polynesia, and Japan. In Japan, it was considered strange as they had felt no earthquake prior to the tsunami.
1841
1841
Year
1841
Location
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Main Article
1841 Kamchatka earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 17 May 1841, an earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude of at least 9 in the Pacific Ocean off the Kamchatka Peninsula generated a tsunami with a maximum run-up height of 15 metres (50 ft) along the peninsula's eastern coast. The tsunami reached Hilo, Hawaii, where it measured 4 metres (15 ft).
1843
1843
Year
1843
Location
Sumatra, Dutch East-Indies
Main Article
1843 Nias earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 5 January 1843, a 7 earthquake collapsed many homes in Sumatra and Nias, also generating a tsunami.
1843
1843
Year
1843
Location
Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles
Main Article
1843 Guadeloupe earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 8 February 1843, an 8 earthquake generated a 1 (3 ft) high tsunami which hit Antigua.
1843
1843
Year
1843
Location
Honshu, Japan
Main Article
1843 Tokachi earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 26 March 1843, an 8 earthquake hit around 6:00, causing waves 4 to 7 metres (13 to 23 ft) high. It damaged houses in Akamae, Miyako, as well as damaging 14 or 15 huts in Shirogane, Hachinohe.
1853–1854
1853–1854
Year
1853–1854
Location
Lituya Bay, Alaska
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
Sometime between August 1853 and May 1854, a large tsunami traveled through the bay. The wave had a maximum height of 120 metres (390 ft) and inundated the bay shoreline up to 230 metres (750 ft) inland.
1854
1854
Year
1854
Location
Nankai, Tōkai, and Kyushu, Japan
Main Article
Ansei great earthquakes
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
The Ansei earthquakes which hit the south coast of Japan, were actually a series of three earthquakes over the course of several days. An 8 magnitude earthquake on 23 December 1854, near Mikawa Province (Aichi Prefecture) and Tōtōmi Province (Shizuoka Prefecture) produced tsunami heights of 4 to 6 metres (13 to 20 ft), with localized heights of u
1855
1855
Year
1855
Location
Edo, Japan
Main Article
1855 Edo earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
The following year, on 11 November 1855, the Great Ansei Edo earthquake of 1855 struck the Edo (Tokyo) region of Japan, killing between 4,500 and 10,000 people. Popular stories of the time blamed the earthquakes and tsunamis on a wallowing giant catfish named Namazu thrashing about. The name of the Japanese era was changed to bring good luck after
1856
1856
Year
1856
Location
Sanriku, Japan
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 23 July 1856, at around 12:00, an earthquake generated a tsunami affecting communities similar to the 1896 Sanriku earthquake. 108 houses were damaged in the vicinity of what is now Miyako City.
1856
1856
Year
1856
Location
Jijel, Algeria
Main Article
1856 Djijelli earthquakes
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On August 22, 1856, an earthquake generated a tsunami that affected the Mediterranean Sea.
1867
1867
Year
1867
Location
Virgin Islands
Main Article
1867 Virgin Islands earthquake and tsunami
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 18 November 1867, a large doublet earthquake occurred in the Virgin Islands archipelago. The crash likely occurred between the islands of Saint Thomas and Saint Croix. The highest run of 7 m (25 ft) was observed at Frederiksted on Saint Croix, and occurred within minutes of the tremors.
1867
1867
Year
1867
Location
Keelung, Taiwan
Main Article
1867 Keelung earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 18 December 1867, a major earthquake struck Keelung, Taiwan, causing the crust of the mountains to deform and fissures to open. The water drained out of Keelung Harbor to reveal the sea floor, then returned in a large wave. The boats were dragged to the center of the city. In many places, the ground and the mountains split open and water gushed
1868
1868
Year
1868
Location
Hawaiian Islands
Main Article
1868 Hawaii earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 2 April 1868, a local earthquake estimated to be between 7 and 8 magnitude struck off the southeastern coast of the island of Hawaii. It triggered a landslide on the slopes of the volcano Mauna Loa, 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of Pahala, killing 31 people. Then a tsunami claimed an additional 46 lives. The villages of Punaluu, Ninole, Kawaa, H
1868
1868
Year
1868
Location
Arica, Peru (now part of Chile)
Main Article
1868 Arica earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 13 August 1868, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8 struck the Peru–Chile Trench. A resulting tsunami hit the port of Arica, then part of Peru, killing an estimated 25,000 in Arica and 70,000 in total. Three military ships anchored in Arica, the American warship USS Wateree and the freighter Fredonia, and the Peruvian warship Americ
1871
1871
Year
1871
Location
Molucca Sea
Main Article
1871 Ruang eruption and tsunami
Primary Cause
Volcanic eruption
Description
In March 1871, an explosive eruption from the Ruang volcano triggered a locally devastating tsunami measuring 25 m (80 ft). It flooded many villages on nearby islands, killing about 400 people.
1874
1874
Year
1874
Location
Lituya Bay, Alaska
Primary Cause
Landslide
Description
Sometime around 1874, perhaps in May 1874, a megatsunami occurred in Lituya Bay. It had a maximum rise height of 20 metres (80 ft), flooding the bay shoreline as far as 640 metres (2,100 ft) inland.
1877
1877
Year
1877
Location
Iquique, Chile
Main Article
1877 Iquique earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 9 May 1877, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8 occurred off the coast of what is now Chile, causing a tsunami that killed an estimated 2,541 people. This event followed the destructive earthquake and tsunami at Arica by only nine years.
1881
1881
Year
1881
Location
Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands
Main Article
1881 Nicobar Islands earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 31 December 1881 a tsunami caused by an earthquake was recorded on all the coasts of the Bay of Bengal by tide gauges. This information has been used to estimate the rupture area and magnitude of the earthquake.
1883
1883
Year
1883
Location
Krakatoa, Sunda Strait, Netherlands East Indies
Main Article
1883 eruption of Krakatoa
Primary Cause
Volcanic eruption
Description
The volcano on the island of Krakatoa in the Dutch East-Indies (present-day Indonesia) exploded on 27 August 1883, partially emptying its subterranean magma chamber, causing much of the land and seabed to collapse onto it. The collapse generated a series of large tsunami waves, some more than 40 metres (130 ft) above sea level. Tsunami waves were o
1888
1888
Year
1888
Location
Ritter Island, Netherlands East Indies
Main Article
1888 Ritter Island eruption and tsunami
Primary Cause
Volcanic eruption
Description
On 13 March 1888, a significant portion of Ritter Island collapsed into the sea, generating tsunamis up to 12 to 15 metres (39 to 49 ft) high that struck nearby islands and traveled as far south as New Guinea, where they were 8 metres (26 ft) high. The waves killed about 3,000 people.
1896
1896
Year
1896
Location
Sanriku, Japan
Main Article
1896 Sanriku earthquake
Primary Cause
Earthquake
Description
On 15 June 1896, at around 19:32 local time, a large undersea earthquake off the coast of Sanriku, northeastern Honshu, Japan, triggered tsunami waves that hit the shore approximately half an hour later. Although the earthquake itself is not believed to have caused any deaths, the waves, which reached a height of 30 metres (100 ft), killed an estim
Year
Location
Main Article
Primary Cause
Description
1806
Goldau, Switzerland
1806 Goldau landslide
Landslide
On 2 September 1806, a landslide of 120,000,000 tons of rock, much of which displaced water from Lake Lauerz and caused a tsunami that inundated lakeside villages, killing 457 people.
1812
Santa Barbara Channel, Alta California
1812 Ventura earthquake
Earthquake or landslide
On 21 December 1812, a magnitude 7 to 7 earthquake triggered a 3 (11 ft) tsunami (eyewitness reported more than 15 metres [50 ft]) in the Lompoc area, leveling homes and missions in the area. It left a ship inland before taking it back out to sea. Its origin may be due to faults or landslides.
1815
Tambora, Indonesia
1815 eruption of Mount Tambora
Volcanic eruption
On 10 April 1815, an eruption of VEI 7 caused a localized tsunami. Tsunami of 4 metres (13 ft) in Sanggar, 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) in Besuki, Java Island and 2 m in the Molucca Islands.
1819
Gujarat, India
1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake
Earthquake
On 16 June 1819, a local tsunami inundated the Great Rann of Kutch
1833
Sumatra, Dutch East-Indies
1833 Sumatra earthquake
Earthquake
On 25 November 1833, an earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude between 8 and 9 struck Sumatra in the Dutch East-Indies. The coast of Sumatra, near the epicenter of the earthquake, was the most affected by the resulting tsunami.
1837
Valdivia, Chile
1837 Valdivia earthquake
Earthquake
On 7 November 1837, an earthquake hit south-central Chile, also striking Hawaii, French Polynesia, and Japan. In Japan, it was considered strange as they had felt no earthquake prior to the tsunami.
1841
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
1841 Kamchatka earthquake
Earthquake
On 17 May 1841, an earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude of at least 9 in the Pacific Ocean off the Kamchatka Peninsula generated a tsunami with a maximum run-up height of 15 metres (50 ft) along the peninsula's eastern coast. The tsunami reached Hilo, Hawaii, where it measured 4 metres (15 ft).
1843
Sumatra, Dutch East-Indies
1843 Nias earthquake
Earthquake
On 5 January 1843, a 7 earthquake collapsed many homes in Sumatra and Nias, also generating a tsunami.
1843
Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles
1843 Guadeloupe earthquake
Earthquake
On 8 February 1843, an 8 earthquake generated a 1 (3 ft) high tsunami which hit Antigua.
1843
Honshu, Japan
1843 Tokachi earthquake
Earthquake
On 26 March 1843, an 8 earthquake hit around 6:00, causing waves 4 to 7 metres (13 to 23 ft) high. It damaged houses in Akamae, Miyako, as well as damaging 14 or 15 huts in Shirogane, Hachinohe.
1853–1854
Lituya Bay, Alaska
Landslide
Sometime between August 1853 and May 1854, a large tsunami traveled through the bay. The wave had a maximum height of 120 metres (390 ft) and inundated the bay shoreline up to 230 metres (750 ft) inland.
1854
Nankai, Tōkai, and Kyushu, Japan
Ansei great earthquakes
Earthquake
The Ansei earthquakes which hit the south coast of Japan, were actually a series of three earthquakes over the course of several days. An 8 magnitude earthquake on 23 December 1854, near Mikawa Province (Aichi Prefecture) and Tōtōmi Province (Shizuoka Prefecture) produced tsunami heights of 4 to 6 metres (13 to 20 ft), with localized heights of u
1855
Edo, Japan
1855 Edo earthquake
Earthquake
The following year, on 11 November 1855, the Great Ansei Edo earthquake of 1855 struck the Edo (Tokyo) region of Japan, killing between 4,500 and 10,000 people. Popular stories of the time blamed the earthquakes and tsunamis on a wallowing giant catfish named Namazu thrashing about. The name of the Japanese era was changed to bring good luck after
1856
Sanriku, Japan
Earthquake
On 23 July 1856, at around 12:00, an earthquake generated a tsunami affecting communities similar to the 1896 Sanriku earthquake. 108 houses were damaged in the vicinity of what is now Miyako City.
1856
Jijel, Algeria
1856 Djijelli earthquakes
Earthquake
On August 22, 1856, an earthquake generated a tsunami that affected the Mediterranean Sea.
1867
Virgin Islands
1867 Virgin Islands earthquake and tsunami
Earthquake
On 18 November 1867, a large doublet earthquake occurred in the Virgin Islands archipelago. The crash likely occurred between the islands of Saint Thomas and Saint Croix. The highest run of 7 m (25 ft) was observed at Frederiksted on Saint Croix, and occurred within minutes of the tremors.
1867
Keelung, Taiwan
1867 Keelung earthquake
Earthquake
On 18 December 1867, a major earthquake struck Keelung, Taiwan, causing the crust of the mountains to deform and fissures to open. The water drained out of Keelung Harbor to reveal the sea floor, then returned in a large wave. The boats were dragged to the center of the city. In many places, the ground and the mountains split open and water gushed
1868
Hawaiian Islands
1868 Hawaii earthquake
Earthquake
On 2 April 1868, a local earthquake estimated to be between 7 and 8 magnitude struck off the southeastern coast of the island of Hawaii. It triggered a landslide on the slopes of the volcano Mauna Loa, 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of Pahala, killing 31 people. Then a tsunami claimed an additional 46 lives. The villages of Punaluu, Ninole, Kawaa, H
1868
Arica, Peru (now part of Chile)
1868 Arica earthquake
Earthquake
On 13 August 1868, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8 struck the Peru–Chile Trench. A resulting tsunami hit the port of Arica, then part of Peru, killing an estimated 25,000 in Arica and 70,000 in total. Three military ships anchored in Arica, the American warship USS Wateree and the freighter Fredonia, and the Peruvian warship Americ
1871
Molucca Sea
1871 Ruang eruption and tsunami
Volcanic eruption
In March 1871, an explosive eruption from the Ruang volcano triggered a locally devastating tsunami measuring 25 m (80 ft). It flooded many villages on nearby islands, killing about 400 people.
1874
Lituya Bay, Alaska
Landslide
Sometime around 1874, perhaps in May 1874, a megatsunami occurred in Lituya Bay. It had a maximum rise height of 20 metres (80 ft), flooding the bay shoreline as far as 640 metres (2,100 ft) inland.
1877
Iquique, Chile
1877 Iquique earthquake
Earthquake
On 9 May 1877, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8 occurred off the coast of what is now Chile, causing a tsunami that killed an estimated 2,541 people. This event followed the destructive earthquake and tsunami at Arica by only nine years.
1881
Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands
1881 Nicobar Islands earthquake
Earthquake
On 31 December 1881 a tsunami caused by an earthquake was recorded on all the coasts of the Bay of Bengal by tide gauges. This information has been used to estimate the rupture area and magnitude of the earthquake.
1883
Krakatoa, Sunda Strait, Netherlands East Indies
1883 eruption of Krakatoa
Volcanic eruption
The volcano on the island of Krakatoa in the Dutch East-Indies (present-day Indonesia) exploded on 27 August 1883, partially emptying its subterranean magma chamber, causing much of the land and seabed to collapse onto it. The collapse generated a series of large tsunami waves, some more than 40 metres (130 ft) above sea level. Tsunami waves were o
1888
Ritter Island, Netherlands East Indies
1888 Ritter Island eruption and tsunami
Volcanic eruption
On 13 March 1888, a significant portion of Ritter Island collapsed into the sea, generating tsunamis up to 12 to 15 metres (39 to 49 ft) high that struck nearby islands and traveled as far south as New Guinea, where they were 8 metres (26 ft) high. The waves killed about 3,000 people.
1896
Sanriku, Japan
1896 Sanriku earthquake
Earthquake
On 15 June 1896, at around 19:32 local time, a large undersea earthquake off the coast of Sanriku, northeastern Honshu, Japan, triggered tsunami waves that hit the shore approximately half an hour later. Although the earthquake itself is not believed to have caused any deaths, the waves, which reached a height of 30 metres (100 ft), killed an estim
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