Deadly Tsunamis - Rachael Jameson

Lisbon Earthquake (Portugal)

Nov 1, 1755

M 9 Earthquake
Death Toll: 20,000
Occurred on All Saint's Day.

Krakatoa Eruption (Java/Sumatra)

Aug 26, 1883

VEI 6 Eruption
Death Toll: 36,000
Tsunami was caused by the explosion of the Krakatoa volcano, not by an earthquake.

Aleutian Earthquake (Alaska)

Apr 1, 1946

M 8.1 Earthquake
Death Toll: 160
The tsunami was caused by a megathrust earthquake. The wave not only affected Alaska, but also Hawaii.

Great Chilean Earthquake (Chile)

May 23, 1960

M 9.5 Earthquake
Death Toll: 61
This earthquake was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded.

Good Friday Earthquake (Alaska)

Mar 27, 1964

M 9.2 Earthquake
Death Toll: 130
Most powerful earthquake in recorded North American history.

Hokkaido Earthquake (Japan)

Jul 12, 1993

M 7.8 Earthquake
Death Toll: 120
The earthquake caused both a tsunami and a major landslide.

Papua New Guinea Earthquake (Papua New Guinea)

Jul 17, 1998

M 7.1 Earthquake
Death Toll: 2,100
The tsunami was originally thought to be caused by a vertical drop in the Pacific Place along a fault, but we now know it may have actually been caused by an underwater landslide.

Sumatra Earthquake (Indonesia)

Dec 26, 2004

M 9.1 Earthquake
Death Toll: 230,000
Tsunami is known as the Christmas or Boxing Day Tsunami.

Samoa Earthquake (Samoan Islands)

Sep 29, 2009

M 8.1 Earthquake
Death Toll: 200
Occurred on a subduction zone in the Ring of Fire.

Chile Earthquake (Chile)

Feb 27, 2010

M 8.8
Death Toll: 700
Tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries as a result of this earthquake.

Tohoku Earthquake (Japan)

Mar 11, 2011

Magnitude 9.1 Earthquake
Death Toll: 20,000
The strongest earthquake in Japan's recorded history.

Sulawesi Earthquake (Indonesia)

Sep 27, 2018

Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake
Death Toll: 4,300
Caused major soil liquefaction considered the largest in the world.