Most Damaging Tsunamis

Lisbon Earthquake - Portugal

Nov 1, 1755

The earthquake was a magnitude 9. The death toll was around 20,000 people. The waves created by the earthquake/tsunami reached heights of 23 feet.

Krakatoa Eruption - Java/Sumatra

Aug 26, 1883

The eruption caused a tsunami so there is no “magnitude”. The death toll was around 36,000 people. The waves of the tsunami reached heights of 115 feet.

Aleutian Earthquake - Alaska

Apr 1, 1946

Magnitude: 8.1
Death Toll: 160 people.
It caused $26 million in damages.

Great Chilean Earthquake - Chile

May 23, 1960

It was a 9.5 magnitude earthquake and had a death toll of 61 people. The tsunami traveled for 15 hours before it reached Chile.

Good Friday Earthquake

Mar 27, 1964

Magnitude: 9.2
Death Toll: 130 people.
The earthquake caused $311 million in damages.

Hokkaido Earthquake - Japan

Jul 12, 1993

Magnitude: 7.8
Death Toll: 120 people.
The earthquake caused both a tsunami and a landslide.

Papua New Guinea Quake - Papua New Guinea

Jul 17, 1998

Magnitude: 7.1
Death Toll: 2100 people.
The earthquake only lasted 19 seconds.

Sumatra Earthquake - Indonesia

Dec 26, 2004

Magnitude: 9.1
Death Toll: 230,000 people.
The waves caused by this earthquake created waves that reached heights of 100 feet.

Samoa Earthquake - Samoan Islands

Sep 29, 2009

Magnitude: 8.1
Death Toll: 200 people.
It was the largest earthquake of 2009.

Chile Earthquake - Chile

Feb 27, 2010

Magnitude: 8.8
Death Toll: 700 people.
The earthquake physically impacted over 80% of the country (Chile).

Tohoku Earthquake - Japan

Mar 11, 2011

Magnitude: 9.1
Death Toll: 20,000 people.
This earthquake and tsunami combined caused around $360 billion in damages.